Development

: Jul 16, 2014; Development; Thomas Henry Strenk

While overall beer sales declined by 1.9 percent last year, craft beer continues to boom, with sales rising 17.2 percent in 2013, according to the Brewers Association. That follows several years of double-digit growth, a rising tide that has buoyed the building of restaurant-brewery combos, aka brewpubs, a casual-dining category that grew nearly 7 percent last year, according to the Boulder, Colo.-based association.

breweries

: Jul 16, 2014; Development; The Editors

Promising "happiness...and a side" in about 60 seconds, Los Angeles-based Box Brands aims to shake up the fast-food industry with its interactive, automated fresh burrito concept, Burritobox.

technology

: Jul 16, 2014; Development; The Editors

Auntie Anne's Pretzels has rolled out a new store design prototype, the first in the 1,540-unit chain's history. The new design is intended to incorporate the look and feel of a home kitchen with warmer tones, prominent brand messaging and enhanced equipment.

: Jul 16, 2014; Development; The Editors

Huelva, Spain-based 100 Montaditos, a chain whose menu features 100 versions of the popular small Spanish sandwich called the Montadito, is expanding its presence in the New York area through its first U.S. franchise relationship.

international expansion

: Jul 15, 2014; Development; Caroline Perkins

Michael Haith, chairman of RainTree, an outsource franchise sales agency, counsels brands to offer sales webinars and tells them what potential partners can learn about each other. Potential franchisees learn about the brand's culture during the webinar, and the brand learns about the candidates in subsequent follow-up. When there is a match and satisfactory financials, the restaurant chain grants a franchise.