Popcorn is the first snack of movie goers: INOX study

Celebrating India’s two of the greatest passions – movies and food, country’s leading multiplex chain, INOX Leisure Ltd (INOX) today released its first ever ‘Cinema Food Report – The food choices of 70mn Indian cinema goers at INOX in 2022’. The Cinema Food Report is based on the food consuming habits of the moviegoers across 167 INOX cinemas located in 74 cities of India. As INOX offers its consumers, a vast array of thoughtfully curated food choices, the Report brings out some extremely interesting insights and trends drawn from the F&B choices of cinephiles who visited INOX in 2022. The Cinema Food Report was unveiled at the Food for Thought Fest at GMR Aerocity, New Delhi on 17^th December 2022 by Sh Uday Mahurkar, Information Commissioner, Government of India.

Drawing fascinating insights and facts from the food transactions happened across all the 167 cinemas located in 74 cities in the year 2022, the Report is a true depiction of interesting food consumption trends, habits and behavioral patterns of the real India, from an year which has been a turnaround year for the cinema exhibition industry.  

Talking about the maiden edition of the Report, Alok Tandon, CEO, INOX Leisure Ltd said, “I am delighted to present the first edition of Cinema Food Report 2022 – The food choices of 70mn Indian cinema goers at INOX in 2022. When India eats at cinema, it is a moment to behold, a moment which is a confluence of two passions, movies and eating out. The cinema food report brings forth, some useful comprehensions, that will help us to serve our guests better. These interesting observations, also depict the depth and breadth of our menu choices, and the level of efforts put in by our Teams across India, to delight our patrons. With constant innovations, re-engineering of offerings and a strong intent to serve and delight, we have been taking our food story to newer heights, and this Report is just the right testimony to that.”

F&B services have always remained an integral part of INOX’s service offerings since its inception in the year 2002. Over the years, thanks to a strong intent to offer delicious and wholesome menu choices, INOX has evolved from a ‘multiplex chain’ to a ‘multiplex & F&B chain’. INOX has strongly positioned itself as a restaurant brand, with F&B service concepts like Insignia and Café Unwind, offering a range of gourmet choices from Indian, Tandoori, Continental, Oriental, Italian, Vegan and other global cuisines. As a part of its F&B growth strategy, INOX even allows its non-movie watching guests to walk in at any of its cinemas and enjoy a meal in the lively lobby spaces. Besides making its food available on online food ordering platforms – Swiggy and Zomato, INOX has also become the only multiplex company to be listed on table reservation platform – Eazydiner. With an aim to increase the engagement and awareness about the gourmet offerings, INOX is also organizing special culinary workshops and experiential events with Chef Vicky Ratnani across the country, besides undertaking outdoor catering opportunities.  

Extracts from the Cinema Food Report 2022

Popcorn and Cinema – a cosmic love story, quite literally!

Popcorn is the first snack that pops up in every mind when thinking of watching a movie. Everyone loves to feast their taste buds on these crisp kernels while their eyes feast on the big screen. Well, the Cinema Food Report also says the same. The report revealed that the moviegoers’ love for the corns shot through space. To put things in perspective, if all the popcorn tubs sold in 2022 are placed atop each other, the stack would reach the outer space, 1032 kilometres to be precise. A whopping 863 Metric tonnes of Popcorn was consumed by Indian movie-goers in 2022.

Mumbai to Valsad: Samosas will take you places                                          

Indians and their love for piping hot samosas is eternal, even in movie theatres. And this love reflected in INOX’s Cinema Food Report. In 2022, Indians bought enough samosas, 19.38 lakhs to be precise, that could easily cover a distance of 197 kilometers – the distance between Mumbai and Valsad, if put together.

Coke opened happiness

According to the Report, the audience through fountain dispensers as well as cans consumed 38.15 Lakh litres of Coke, The quantity is enough to fill Olympic sized swimming pool 1.5 times. Interestingly, with 343740 liters, the city of art, culture and cuisine, Kolkata consumed more Coke than any other metro city in 2022.

Sandwiches matter. They really did!

Moviegoers loved Triangles more than Circles, as they preferred sandwiches over burgers and pizzas. At INOX, we sold over 5.1 lakhs sandwiches in 2022

Vizag loves its burgers

Movie aficionados in Vizag couldn’t resist eating burgers. The city was way ahead from mega cities like Mumbai, Lucknow, Gurgaon, and Kolkata, as far as burger consumption is concerned.

Donuts were in demand!

The demand for donuts kept growing. While ice-creams and brownies featured in the list of most preferred desserts, Donuts emerged as the most preferred desserts last year, with Chennai single-handedly taking care of 2/3^rd of the country’s consumption.

Making festivals memorable!

Family, freedom, fun and food - words that define a festival for Indians. INOX went out of the way to make these occasions extra special. 18 occasions-based special food menus were curated for movie lovers. Whether it was Navratris, or the Monsoons, or the T20 Cricket World Cup, INOX made sure, it remained the flavor of the season.

How and when the foodies paid!

The Report states that INOX processed 29 Digital F&B transactions every minute of the year. This indicates that Indians have quite embraced the idea of ‘Digital India’ and cashless payments. 

The Cinema Food Report 2022 also threw light on when do foodies love to place their orders. While maximum orders at Kolkata were placed between 7pm and 8 pm, Bangalore and Chennai reported peak transactions between 8pm and 9pm. Mumbai, the city that never sleeps, placed maximum orders between 10pm and 11pm.