Customer Reviews

To Russia with Fries.

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although there is a bit of name dropping and a few self congratulatory stories, overall this book is entertaining and worth reading. Mr. Cohon, while summarizing business dealings which define perseverance, provides interesting perspectives on business management, networking and family values. He also provides a lot of information about the inner political workings of the former Soviet Union.

George Cohon describes how he turned McDonald's into a Russian institution by marketing meat, bread, potatoes and milk in a culture where such fare had long constituted the traditional diet. The lesson here is that when global companies market products that local consumers can readily identify with, the companies are perceived to be of local origin.

George Cohon gives an honest account of the years of meetings, negotiations, disapointments and eventual victory associated with bringing McDonalds to Russia.

A testament to the human side of successful business negotiation.

A fascinating story of the authors life, concentrating on his efforts trying to sell the concept of fast food to party apparachiks who had almost little idea what a hamburger was and acted as if they cared less. The book is full of the many humerous and incongruous situations that confronted the western businessman in both Soviet and post Soviet Russia, for that reason alone I would recommend the book.

Having said this I found many irritations too in the sections of the book dealing with activities outside Russia. There are a number of self congratulatory stories, where uninformed critics of multinational fast food are roundly dispatched. Meanwhile meaningful discussion of ironies such as corporate fast food super sizing kids and then building them Hospitals is conspicuous by its absence. Whether in this instance, blocking investment that helped black South Africans or raising money for Israel the book at times seems to be all about self righteous application of economic power. The author trained as a lawyer and naturally argues a good defence, but in criticism I found some of this irkesome.

just great!! amazing.