Timati, the performer, and Anton Pinsky, a restaurateur, took ownership of a large cluster of Domino’s Pizza units in Russia by acquiring 68 franchise locations and rallying additional franchisees around their leadership. This development was communicated to socialbites.ca via the press service of Timati and Pinsky. The message framed the move as a strategic relaunch of the pizza network under the DOMINO Pizza name, with the aim of preserving existing franchise partners, continuing operations across roughly 120 outlets, and safeguarding the livelihoods of more than two thousand employees across the country.
The rollout began with the first new storefront on Khodynsky Boulevard in Moscow, which opened on August 30. The new owners are focusing on refining the recipe lineup, integrating an AI-based quality-control framework, and implementing a set of modernization initiatives designed to elevate the customer experience. The plan is to combine the franchise’s enduring heritage with fresh branding and streamlined operations to meet evolving consumer preferences.
According to the press release, DOMINO Pizza intends to honor Domino’s two-decade imprint in Russia while injecting a lighter, more expressive personality into the brand. The language of the release suggested a balance between legacy and innovation, aiming to reassure partners and customers that the core strengths and familiarity of the brand would be preserved even as changes are introduced.
Timati, reflecting on the new chapter during the initial store unveiling, noted that his team already has productive experience in allied ventures, such as Stars Coffee, which provides him with confidence about the success trajectory of the expanded food-and-beverage operation. His remarks conveyed a belief that the business could demonstrate noticeable improvements within a relatively short timeframe as the new strategies take root.
In parallel developments, Timati and Pinsky, along with Sindika, completed an acquisition of Starbucks assets in Russia at roughly 500 million rubles. Pinsky highlighted the rapid growth of the Stars Coffee chain, which they introduced in late 2022 and early 2023, achieving a level of market presence that rivaled established names within a few months of launch, according to their disclosures. This expansion fits a broader pattern of the partners pursuing diversified consumer-brand opportunities across the Russian market.
Later, in August, there were reports that Domino’s Pizza would pursue bankruptcy proceedings within Russia, while brand operator DP Eurasia paused investments and waived royalties for its Russian operations. This background context frames the current leadership change as part of a broader, ongoing reconfiguration of international brand activity in the country, with stakeholders seeking to stabilize operations and protect franchise networks amid shifting market conditions.
Amid these transitions, former entertainment figure Sergey Lazarev indicated a shift away from acting in a particular project associated with the wedding narrative for Figaro’s Wedding, signaling a broader recalibration of commitments and public appearances as business and entertainment ventures reorganize around new leadership and strategies. Taken together, the developments reflect an ecosystem of ongoing realignment in Russia’s franchise and hospitality sectors, where high-profile investors are combining branding legacies with renewed operational frameworks to pursue resilience and growth in a dynamic environment.