Inox sells 863 tonnes of popcorn to moviegoers in 2022

Multiplex chain Inox Leisure sold 863 tonnes of popcorn to Indian cinema-goers in 2022.

According to the company's 'Cinema Food Report', if all the popcorn tubs sold in 2022 are placed atop each other, the stack would reach outer space, 1,032 kilometres.

The multiplex chain said its food report is based on the food consuming habits of the moviegoers across 167 Inox cinemas located in 74 cities of India.

The report provides insights and trends about the food and beverage choices of movie lovers who visited the theatres in 2022.

"In 2022, Indians bought enough samosas, 19.38 lakhs to be precise, that could easily cover a distance of 197 kilometres – the distance between Mumbai and Valsad, if put together," says the report.

Through fountain dispensers as well as cans, moviegoers consumed 38.15 lakh litres of Coke, the quantity that’s enough to fill Olympic sized swimming pool 1.5 times, the report says. With 3,43,740 litres, Kolkata consumed more Coke than any other metro city in 2022, it adds.

The company sold over 5.1 lakhs sandwiches in 2022, more than burgers and pizzas. Donuts emerged as the most preferred desserts last year, with Chennai accounting for two-third of the country’s consumption.

While maximum orders at Kolkata were placed between 7pm and 8pm, Bangalore and Chennai reported peak transactions between 8pm and 9pm. Mumbai placed maximum orders between 10pm and 11pm.

Inox said it has evolved from a 'multiplex chain' to a 'multiplex & F&B chain'. The company claims it has strongly positioned itself as a restaurant brand, with F&B service concepts like Insignia and Café Unwind, offering a range of gourmet choices.

As a part of its F&B growth strategy, Inox says it allows its non-movie watching guests to walk in at any of its cinemas and have a meal in the lively lobby spaces. Besides making its food available on online food ordering platforms — Swiggy and Zomato, Inox is also listed on table reservation platform Eazydiner.

According to CRISIL Ratings, multiplexes are set to triple their revenue this fiscal, propped by the low-base effect of last fiscal and more people queuing up to watch movies after the pandemic-forced hiatus.

Revenues of multiplex chains are expected to rise to an all-time high of over ₹6,000 crore, or 13-15% above the fiscal 2020 level. The sharp recovery in occupancy coupled with a troika of factors — increased average ticket prices, higher spend per head on food & beverages (F&B) and addition of screens — are expected to script the growth story.

While occupancy was back to pre-pandemic levels in the first quarter, it might drop a bit for the full fiscal as multiplexes continue to feel the heat from over-the-top (OTT) platforms, the ratings agency said.