Weekly Global News Wrap: Subway franchisees demand lower fees; Panera unveils newest restaurant design; Burger King enters U.S. chicken sandwich wars

Here is a summary of the most interesting news stories of the week from around the world.

A group of Subway franchisees published an open letter to Elisabeth DeLuca, the wife of co-founder Fred DeLuca and one of the sandwich chain's owners, Business Insider reports. The franchisees demanded the company cut back royalties, or fees they must pay to the corporate office. Read more here.

Panera unveiled its next-generation bakery-café restaurant design, which will be implemented in all new builds, whilst some existing locations will be retrofitted. As Forbes reported, the design balances Panera’s signature bakery experience with its significant shift toward off-premise business throughout the past year. Read more here.

IHOP is launching its fast-casual spinoff, Flip’d by IHOP, in July — more than a year after initially planned. CNBC reports IHOP plans to pilot the fast-casual locations in suburban areas and inside high-end convenience stores in the U.S. as well. Read more here.

USA Today reports that McDonald’s has been accused for engaging in racial discrimination by refusing to advertise on the networks of Entertainment Studios and Weather Group, which are owned by Black media entrepreneur Byron Allen. Read more here.

Burger King will enter the U.S. chicken sandwich wars in June with the Ch’King. The fast food giant follows the footsteps of fellow Restaurant Brands International chain Popeyes, which launched its own sandwich in August 2019. Read more here.