ST. PETERSBURG, March 11. /TASS/. Finnish chocolate and bakery manufacturer Fazer is developing an action plan to maintain operation of its plants in Moscow and St. Petersburg, the company’s press service told TASS.

"Fazer is working on the options to withdraw from the Russian market in accordance with Russian legislation. Fazer's local team is developing an action plan with a focus on maintaining operations and jobs. All of the company's bakeries (three in St. Petersburg and one in Moscow) continue to operate, continue to work as usual and supply bakery products to stores," the spokeswoman said.

Earlier, the company announced a decision to stop all activities in Russia, having previously stopped exports and investments in the country.

In total, the company has 2,300 employees in Moscow and St. Petersburg, employed at bakery enterprises. At the end of 2021, Fazer's turnover in Russia amounted to 157 million euros, 13% of its total turnover.

According to the Committee for Industrial Policy, Innovation and Trade of St. Petersburg, Fazer is the largest manufacturer of bakery and confectionery products.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine, stressing that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories. Western countries responded to the actions of the Russian authorities by slapping sanctions against physical and legal entities.