Companies with Russian links to boycott

[Tulipomania]

I haven't seen another thread on this.

Can we compile a list of companies to boycott who are refusing to withdraw business from Russia?

I'll take a start with Coca-Cola, and Costa Coffee, which is owned by Coke.

@FuckeryOmbudsman

It's not thoughtless. Well, not inherently thoughtless - there will always be people who miss the point and that might look the same.

It could be simplistic if evidence/explanation not supplied. But there's no reason not to supply that, is there?

I didn't think OP was asking for a knee-jerk list.

And isn't it better if those who wish to boycott do so on the basis of decent information, not just what they found on Google?

I guess there's a generational component to this - depending on whether you were old enough to participate in the South African boycott

Yes I was and over the years I found that calling for a boycott isnt always the most effective way of dealing with a situation. Ive changed my view over the years.

@Wintersonata

Is this sarcastic? I honestly can't tell in this place anymore!

I thought it was sarcastic but I’m not sure any more since apparently there is now pressure on Russ Abbot to change his name as people may consider his first name to show tacit support for Russia.

I wasn't sure either, but sure appreciate the posters who pointed out my denseness 😘

@BookkeeperBobby

Wrt Russ Abbott I believe it's his middle name - Ian - that is causing problems.

I’d wondered about that - I think you’re right.

I thought he was dead!

@BookkeeperBobby

It's not just the Tories! Labour leader Starmer is still refusing to change his name from the Russian spelling Kier to Ukrainian spelling Kyir despite growing international pressure. 😱

His name is Keir not Kier and Keir is an Irish name.

[quote Im2022]@Fiefofum I am actually pfftt laughing at your post. I can’t tell if you’re being serious or taking the piss.

You’re going to use less gas because of Russia huh? Why turn the thermostat down though? That’s still using it. Just cut off the gas pipe to your house and live without gas to show those Russians 😂.[/quote]
It's not a crazy idea, although we don't use much Russian gas in the UK, we are very exposed to global prices (as gas production isn't publicly run, we can't set the prices and they follow global ones) and high demand pushes prices higher. If we use less gas, there will more Norwegian gas for European countries, and they will be less reliant on Russian imports. Also good for helping reduce fossil fuel usage re climate change. It's a tiny difference, but better than nothing.

In Europe, they are being asked to reduce their gas usage by turning the heating down by 1c:

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/03/turn-down-heating-reduce-need-russian-imports-europeans-told

@AlternativePerspective

wrong thread...this one is about Ukraine nope. If people are boycotting products out of genuine solidarity with Ukraine, then it surely stands to reason that there were mass boycotts of US and UK companies during the Iraq war. And if not, why not? Other than that these boycotts are purely virtue signalling.

I can buy what I want. And if I don't want to buy Russian then I don't. You can't make me.

In Europe, they are being asked to reduce their gas usage by turning the heating down by 1c:

We're doing this. And once dd has gone to bed we shut the heating off and try to stay warm by sitting under wool blankets. I've been warmer but it's doable. Hoping for warmer weather soon.

Shell. They've just bought a lot of Russian oil at a discount. Bet you don't see the price go down

@bedheadedzombie

In Europe, they are being asked to reduce their gas usage by turning the heating down by 1c:

We're doing this. And once dd has gone to bed we shut the heating off and try to stay warm by sitting under wool blankets. I've been warmer but it's doable. Hoping for warmer weather soon.

I'm doing this too, I was trying to reduce energy bills anyway since a shock with the smart meter reading where it was charging nearly £5 in a day for gas, it's given me another reason to reduce it. I'm going to try and insulate the house more before next winter.

I find it utterly ridiculous that perfectly good, already paid for, product is being wasted to appease the masses. The companies have already received payment, and the massive waste juts to look good by pulling stick is stupid.

@ifoundthebread bollocks are Asda removing all Unilever products from their shelves 😂

Your friend in your local store is at best confused, but possibly a bit dim. They’d be removing almost as much as they’d be leaving.

Asda is removing Russian-produced product. Let me tell you this - I’ve worked in retail and FMCG manufacture. Right now, Asda can’t even tell you where Unilever (and other suppliers) manufacture their goods. There are some countries where a manufacturer has to declare it, but not the U.K. so first up they need to ask Unilever.

Now Unilever does have some production sites in Russia. But that doesn’t mean they supply the U.K. You probably assume it’s cheap to produce out there. Not as cheap as you think, and then you add in taxes and huge transportation costs (have you driven a truck from Moscow to London recently? In a driver shortage? That’s thousands of pounds).

Products sourced from Russia are likely to mainly be actually Russian - vodka, caviar…

That’s what Asda will be removing, not all Unilever products!

@SD1978

I find it utterly ridiculous that perfectly good, already paid for, product is being wasted to appease the masses. The companies have already received payment, and the massive waste juts to look good by pulling stick is stupid.

Sainsbury’s reviewed their full range and pulled some vodka and some dried sunflower seeds. Massive waste? And hardly essential products. They wouldn’t be wasted anyway - they can do to an anaerobic digestion plant and contribute to freeing us from Russian energy reliance.

It’s not like they’re pouring vodka down drains (hardly an essential product if they did) or compacting bread that a food bank needs.

[quote Cocomarine]@ifoundthebread bollocks are Asda removing all Unilever products from their shelves 😂

Your friend in your local store is at best confused, but possibly a bit dim. They’d be removing almost as much as they’d be leaving.

Asda is removing Russian-produced product. Let me tell you this - I’ve worked in retail and FMCG manufacture. Right now, Asda can’t even tell you where Unilever (and other suppliers) manufacture their goods. There are some countries where a manufacturer has to declare it, but not the U.K. so first up they need to ask Unilever.

Now Unilever does have some production sites in Russia. But that doesn’t mean they supply the U.K. You probably assume it’s cheap to produce out there. Not as cheap as you think, and then you add in taxes and huge transportation costs (have you driven a truck from Moscow to London recently? In a driver shortage? That’s thousands of pounds).

Products sourced from Russia are likely to mainly be actually Russian - vodka, caviar…

That’s what Asda will be removing, not all Unilever products![/quote]
I never said they are removing all of anything. I said they sent a list of stock they want removing from shelves.

@ifoundthebread I apologise for attributing that to you! I’ve just read back and though you commented on the Asda point, it was originally @CherieBabySpliffUp who said that Asda was removing Unilever products. She didn’t say all, but I think implied it - hence several people asking what the deal was with Unilever, especially given it’s a boycott thread!

Asda are - like some other supermarkets - removing wholly Russian sourced products. These may or may not include some Unilever products. If they do, they’re likely to be few, for the reasons I stated.

Apologies again for thinking it was you!

Jo Malone is still trading in Russia.

[quote Cocomarine]@ifoundthebread bollocks are Asda removing all Unilever products from their shelves 😂

Your friend in your local store is at best confused, but possibly a bit dim. They’d be removing almost as much as they’d be leaving.

Asda is removing Russian-produced product. Let me tell you this - I’ve worked in retail and FMCG manufacture. Right now, Asda can’t even tell you where Unilever (and other suppliers) manufacture their goods. There are some countries where a manufacturer has to declare it, but not the U.K. so first up they need to ask Unilever.

Now Unilever does have some production sites in Russia. But that doesn’t mean they supply the U.K. You probably assume it’s cheap to produce out there. Not as cheap as you think, and then you add in taxes and huge transportation costs (have you driven a truck from Moscow to London recently? In a driver shortage? That’s thousands of pounds).

Products sourced from Russia are likely to mainly be actually Russian - vodka, caviar…

That’s what Asda will be removing, not all Unilever products![/quote]
Exactly, Asda announced iirc some spirits, sweets and fish products.

@OtherPlans

Jo Malone is still trading in Russia.

The one place where energy is cheap as chips and they don't need to rely on candles.

LOL at people using Jo Malone candles for light and heat!

@CherieBabySpliffUp

My local Asda has started taking Unilever products off of the shelves.

Yes ours has removed a number of food items from Russsia - apparently it will be a nationwide thing in Asda stores (hearsay, so not entirely sure if factually correct).

What an ignorant comment, this war has been started by the country with the most nuclear weapons in the world!!!

You are a complete plank.

Costa Coffee for me. I went there frequently. Not now.

Also pondering the fact Marks and Spencer just launched their range in Costa, two days later Marks and Spencer pull out of Russian business, yet Costa still trades in Russia.

Products sourced from Russia are likely to mainly be actually Russian - vodka, caviar…

Well yes. I'm completely confused by this thread. I thought consumer boycotts were usually about not buying things produced by a country (not avoiding companies that sell products to the country) to deprive said country of income. Surely we should be asking companies whether they are buying Russian oil, fertiliser etc. and using it to produce products here.

@Sweetpeasaremadeforbees

Products sourced from Russia are likely to mainly be actually Russian - vodka, caviar…

Well yes. I'm completely confused by this thread. I thought consumer boycotts were usually about not buying things produced by a country (not avoiding companies that sell products to the country) to deprive said country of income. Surely we should be asking companies whether they are buying Russian oil, fertiliser etc. and using it to produce products here.

You’re quoting me so I’ll respond. A product that is wholly, obviously Russian produced is easy to boycott. Something like vodka might even have “distilled in Russia” helpfully on the label for marketing purposes.

Much less obvious is that copper sulphate additive used for anti-caking properties, added to a product made in the U.K. but sourced from a mine in Belarus.

Of course that doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile boycotting the easily identified products - but this is why supermarkets are going for “wholly sourced” - the supply chains are really complex.