March of the ignorant: Are Puma, Bata, Domino’s, and KFC connected to Israel?

Amid a well-intentioned countrywide protest against the Israeli occupation of Palestine yesterday (7 April), a segment of hooligans reverted to old habits: vandalising buildings and looting businesses.

The nation reacted with sharp criticism, with the government slamming the looters. 

Law enforcement reacted quickly, making 50 arrests so far. 

But as the dust settled, the issue of Palestine receded and the looting dominated conversations.

The looters had perhaps served their purpose – against the backdrop of the Bangladesh Investment Summit and under the shadow of the Palestinian flag, they carried out revenge against those they believed to be aggressors.

Except, all the looters did was expose their own ignorance. 

Take the case of Puma. 

Puma was indeed named in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement. 

But this status was revoked in 2024. 

Puma, which originated in Germany, came under the spotlight in 2018 for being the official sponsor of the Israel Football Association (IFA).

In addition, Puma's current and past exclusive licensees in Israel had operations in illegal Israeli settlements. 

Puma first entered Bangladesh in 2019, opening an outlet a year later in the capital's Banani a year later.  

The global outcry against Puma began to grow since it was named in the BDS movement. 

In 2023, it announced that it would soon be ending its partnership with the IFA. 

This was made official in December 2024. Once done, the BDS Movement's official site also noted the development. 

Next up is Bata. 

Although images and videos appeared of vandals breaking into Bata outlets, what stayed was what they did after: they began to loot shoes by the dozens.

For those expressing such ire towards the brand, they seemed all too gleeful to wear the brand regardless. 

Some of the shoes even appeared on the Facebook Marketplace later, emphasising the actual motives of the looters. 

Bata started its journey back on 24 August 1894 in Zlín (Moravia, now the Czech Republic).

It was founded by a family who came from a long line of cobblers of Czech Christian heritage.

It soon became one of Europe's leading shoe manufacturers in just a few decades.

It began operations in Bangladesh in 1962, having two manufacturing plants – one in Tongi and the other in Dhamrai.

In the Middle East, Bata has been around much longer. It opened its first outlet in present-day Israel back in 1927 before Israel was even forcefully founded. 

It expanded in a few years, having outlets in eight different cities.

In recent times though, Bata does not seem to be operating in Israel.

There is no readily available data confirming active Bata stores or corporate operations within Israel.

Importantly, the brand is also not part of the BDS movement.

However, Bata products are accessible to Israeli consumers through online platforms. 

There is, however, a company called Bata Group Ltd registered in Israel, but it focuses on construction and there is no evidence it is related to the Bata shoe company.

Next up on the list of yesterday's greatest hits is Domino's Pizza. 

It's a pizza shop. 

Domino's has maintained a presence in Israel since 1990, operating over 30 locations nationwide.

It, however, maintains a neutral political stance, because it is a business. 

While it is not on the BDS list, it is targeted in some countries by grassroots organic boycott campaigns, not initiated by the BDS movement. The BDS supports these boycott campaigns because of these companies, or their branches or franchisees in Israel. 

It was also named in the boycott list for "staying silent". 

It is to be noted that Domino's works in a franchise model. 

While it is an American company, in 2003, after the bankruptcy of the master franchise in Israel Omni Food Products, the franchise was sold to Asaf Greenberg and two main franchise owners.

Domino's has also not made public statements regarding the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Now, while Domino's does not explicitly support Israel, its operations may be indicative of a supportive business relationship. 

Finally on the list is KFC. 

KFC is also an American company which offers a franchise model. Whether the current KFC in Bangladesh is authentic or not is also debated. 

KFC has often entered and exited the Israeli market on numerous occasions. It returned again in 2020. 

KFC has also faced scrutiny over its business practices in Israel, including allegations related to worker treatment and operations in contentious areas.

While it maintains its business neutrality, it has often come under criticism.

When Yum! Brands, Inc, KFC's parent company, acquired Israeli omnichannel ordering and marketing platform company Tictuk Technologies, it was again seen as a cosy relationship between the brand and the country. 

That American companies are complicit in various crimes, including genocide, around the world is a given, businesses often try to extricate themselves from politics, regularly failing to do so as well. 

If doing business with Israel, in this instance, was the crime, then shouldn't the target of ire be closer to home? 

Bangladesh has often done business with Israel in the past.

In fact, Bangladesh's close ties with Middle Eastern countries should also be scrutinised – are they as complicit (perhaps even more) in the genocide through their silence as is, for instance, KFC?  

Similarly, Bangladesh is also, even now, attempting to woo America – the biggest enabler and funder of the Palestinian genocide. 

Of course, economic disentanglement in such a hyper-globalist world isn't done overnight, so what next?

Additionally, brands could also be careful about their own messaging. Coca-Cola's "Oi Desh" controversy from last year comes to mind. 

Even now, many brands are trying to profit off the hate for their rivals, turning genocide into an instrument to boost sales. It's a very shameful act and is disgustingly self-serving.

Now, the boycott movement is where the attention could remain. 

This shouldn't be lumped with a looting movement. One works and the other distracts, only to serve the looters, not the Palestinian cause. 

Boycotts of Western food and drinks brands in Muslim countries have hit the revenues of multinationals and their franchise operators.

It is a model that has worked, slowly eating away at the bottom line – the only thing that businesses actually care about. 

The looting and vandalism, meanwhile, is a show – remember yesterday when some looters even tried to attack a local super-chain because they didn't know better?

It is the blind leading the blind and it should be punished. Destructive inconvenience can be overlooked, but not at the cost of overshadowing the greater cause.