F&B: The real blockbuster at theatres

Step into a multiplex these days and it would seem that the people have come there more for the popcorn and the fizzy drinks than to watch a movie.

- Lata Jha

The F&B (food and beverage) business of cinemas has been holding relatively steady though movies haven't been doing too well at the box office in the past few months, especially in the Hindi belt, theatre owners and experts said.

However, experts said ancillary streams such as F&B can thrive only when new movies start doing well. More importantly, exorbitant F&B rates are pinching viewers across demographics and segments. With even basic popcorn and cola combos priced upwards of ₹700 in some cases, audiences are feeling ripped off.

For PVR Inox, India's largest multiplex chain, although revenue from the sale of movie tickets fell 9.9% in FY25, the dip in F&B was lower at 6.7%. F&B spending per head actually rose by 1.5%.