Two well-known Russian restaurant chains have roughly halved their footprints since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, underscoring the mounting pressures facing the country's casual dining sector as operators grapple with rising costs, shifting consumer habits and weakening profitability.
Coffee chain Shokoladnitsa has cut its number of outlets in Russia by nearly 58% since 2021, while Moscow cafeteria chain Mu-Mu has reduced its locations by more than half, according to market research data.
Shokoladnitsa, one of Russia's largest coffeehouse chains, operated 444 cafes in 2021, according to research firm Infoline. It now has 187 locations in Russia, a decline of 257 outlets, or 57.9%.
The pace of closures has accelerated in recent months. Since the end of 2025, the chain has shrunk from 236 to 187 cafes. During 2024, it closed 42 locations while opening only seven new ones.
Mu-Mu, a self-service cafeteria chain popular in Moscow, has also contracted sharply. It operated 40 restaurants in the capital in 2021 but now has 18, according to real estate consultancy Nikoliers, representing a 55% decline.
