OTHER NEWS - Dec. 7, 1993

Burger King Pledges Aid to Minority Franchisees: The fast-food chain said it will spend $100 million over five years to help its minority franchisees and suppliers. The Miami-based subsidiary of Britain’s Grand Metropolitan pledged $10 million a year in development money for franchisees and $10 million a year as loan guarantees for the suppliers. It said 720 of the 6,000 Burger Kings in the United States are eligible. In 1988, Burger King was sued for $500 million by 12 black franchisees who claimed blacks had to pay up to twice as much as others for franchises. The company settled with six of the plaintiffs and the others’ suits are pending, Burger King general counsel Mark Giresi said. He said the new support program is not directly related to the lawsuits.