Calls for supermarkets to change spelling of chicken 'Kiev' in solidarity with Ukraine

3 March 2022, 13:57

Supermarkets are under increasing pressure to change the name of the popular dish
Supermarkets are under increasing pressure to change the name of the popular dish. Picture: Alamy

By Daisy Stephens

There are growing calls for supermarkets and brands to drop the Soviet spelling of their chicken Kievs, and instead call them chicken Kyivs.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Some brands have already made the change, with Irish food producer Finnebrogue - owner of the Better Naked brand - announcing the altered spelling "in solidarity with the Ukrainian people".

The brand also announced that half the profits from the product would go towards the humanitarian effort in Ukraine.

"We have renamed our plant-based Chicken Kiev to Kyiv in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, as they continue to defend their right to freedom and self-determination in the face of Putin’s invasion," the brand said on Twitter.

"We are also donating 50% of the profits from our Better Naked Kyiv to the humanitarian relief effort in Ukraine, starting with an immediate £10,000 donation to UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross."

Other brands have followed suit, including Dublin-based Fallon & Byrne and London's II Portico and Pino.

Now there are calls for other brands and restaurants, including major supermarkets, to change the spelling too.

One Twitter user wrote: "I still think @marksandspencer is missing a real trick in not renaming its iconic Chicken Kiev - a dish that launched the entire ready meal industry - as Chicken Kyiv and donating profits to Ukraine Red Cross or similar."

Read more: School children force fed Putin's propaganda as Russian media hides Ukraine truths

Read more: 'They are not warriors': Zelenskyy's plea as Ukrainians comfort captured Russian troops

Another said: "Chicken Kiev might now be the most inappropriately named dish in all the culinary world."

A number of supermarkets, including Morrisons and Sainsbury's, are reportedly considering the change.

LBC has approached all the major supermarkets for a comment.

Footage shows moment of explosion in Kyiv

For many, changing the spelling of the word is seen as a small and peaceful way to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

The capital city was known as Kiev when the country was under Soviet rule - but the Ukrainian spelling is Kyiv.

Now that the sovereignty of the country is under threat, the Ukrainian spelling has been more widely adopted, with many news outlets and governments making a deliberate choice to reject the Russian translation of the word.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
The former Deputy Foreign Secretary said: “Many countries in Europe are simply not spending anywhere near, in percentage terms, what America is spending.

UK needs to ‘spend less on welfare and more on defence’ to support Ukraine, former Deputy Foreign Secretary tells LBC

Craig and Lindsay Foreman

British couple detained in Iran pictured for the first time as family break silence on 'distressing situation'

The Jet2 plane was forced to divert.

Jet2 plane bound for UK makes emergency landing after passenger dies on board

he Philadelphia Eagles celebrate in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art during the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Championship Parade on February 14, 2025

Two women shot and injured during Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl victory parade, police say

Social media footage showed a man being kicked on the ground by his knife-wielding attacker.

Two charged by police after shock footage shows man kicked and spat at by knifeman after ‘burning Koran’ in London

Jannik Sinner

World tennis number one Jannik Sinner handed three-month ban for doping

Keith Edun, 47, used the messaging app “Kik” to spread vile images of children

Predator who encouraged man to rape a baby after sharing vile images of children online is jailed for 21 years

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2025 in Munich, Germany.

Zelenskyy calls for creation of ‘European army’ as he warns Russia 'will pull Europe apart' if not defeated

The woman who said she was raped by rappers and business moguls Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs in 2000, when she was 13, has dropped her civil lawsuit against both men.

Woman who accused Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of raping her when she was 13 drops lawsuit

Liam Payne died last Wednesday.

One Direction star Liam Payne was 'sectioned' after near-fatal overdose months before death, close friend claims

Hamas hands over 3 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip to Red Cross

Israeli hostages paraded on stage before being freed as four Palestinian prisoners released in 'critical condition'

uk british national lottery euromillions ticket with picks

Winning numbers revealed as single UK EuroMillions ticket holder scoops massive £65million Valentine’s Day jackpot

Breaking
Emergency services were called just after 7pm on Friday amid reports a woman had suffered serious injuries

Woman dies after Valentine's Day shooting at village pub as murder probe launched

Rob and Lindsey Burrow a few weeks before he died

Rob Burrow's wife reveals heartbreaking moment she knew rugby league star 'couldn't go on' with MND struggle

Axel Rudakubana will be 'target number one' in prison

Southport killer Axel Rudakubana's sentence won't be referred to Court of Appeal despite claims it's 'unduly lenient'

The damaged shield

'Risk of radioactive leak' after Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl, causing 'significant damage'