In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, movie theaters have struggled to stay open. New regulations have forced them to close their doors or limit the number of people allowed in each theater. While some theaters have gradually reopened, many customers are hesitant to sit in an enclosed theater with people who might have COVID-19. Movie theater food has also become less appetizing, causing another drop in sales.
Despite all these changes, popcorn, hot dogs and chocolate are still classic movie theater treats. Many people buy popcorn and candy at the store so they can relive the movie theater experience at home. They'll find several brands of microwavable popcorn at the store, but nothing quite replicates a bowl of hot, buttery popcorn straight from the machine. Some customers claim that soda and nachos taste better when you buy them from the movie theater.
To boost their sales, some movie theaters have started offering cinema food delivery. This allows movie lovers to enjoy their favorite snacks at home without driving to the theater. With affordable delivery fees, customers can enjoy home movie nights without sacrificing the theater atmosphere.
What is Cinema Food Delivery?
Cinema food delivery takes inspiration from the virtual kitchen trend that involves ordering food online and having it delivered to your house. Instead of a full restaurant, movie theaters offer treats like hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, sweets, pizza and soda. Some movie theaters had even branched out into gourmet food before the pandemic started, allowing them to add meals to their delivery service.
Movie theaters partner with delivery services like UberEats so they can deliver food to their customers. Diners scroll through the menu just like a regular restaurant, then place their order and wait for the food to arrive. Movie theaters package the food carefully to ensure that it stays hot and doesn't spill during the drive.
To make the deal more enticing, some movie theaters offer bundles with extra gifts. For example, a customer could order a bundle that includes popcorn, soda and an HD movie rental. Other packages come with decorations that make people feel like they have a movie theater in their house. Cinema food delivery allows movie theaters to adapt to the new world of shutdowns and social distancing without shutting down permanently.
What Makes Cinema Food Delivery Attractive to Customers?
At first glance, ordering nachos from a movie theater might seem pointless when you can make nachos at home. However, cinema food delivery has become increasingly popular among customers. Here's why people order snacks from their local movie theaters:
- They feel like they're actually going to the theater, which makes the experience more exciting.
- In addition to popcorn and hot dogs, they can stock up on snacks for everyday use.
- Certain packages come with a movie rental so they can pay for their entire night at once.
- Many people prefer hot food from the theater over reheated food in the microwave.
- While they're using the app, they can order restaurant food at the same time.
- Movie theater food has a distinct taste that's hard to replicate.
- If they don't have snacks at home, they can get food delivered without leaving the house.
- They can order alcoholic beverages if they're 21 or older.
Since major studios have released hundreds of films digitally instead of in theaters, ordering snacks for delivery is the next step for at-home movie night.
Is Cinema Food Delivery Worth the Trouble?
Cinema food delivery might sound like extra work for movie theaters, but all they have to do is package the food. Most movie theaters partner with existing apps like UberEats that have their own delivery drivers. An UberEats driver simply goes to the theater, picks up the food and delivers it to the customer. With a restaurant SaaS application like Cuboh, theaters can easily keep track of their orders and prepare the food on time.
Essentially, theaters don't have to make major changes to their original routine. They'll still sell food at the concession stand--the only difference is that the customer doesn't get it immediately. Theaters can even boost their profits by adding movie rentals and other products to their bundles. As a result, customers who might have lost interest will stop scrolling when they see a good deal.
How Can Your Movie Theater Make the Transition?
To start offering cinema food delivery, you'll need the latest in restaurant tech. Cuboh lists all your orders in one dashboard so you don't have to check several apps at once. All you'll have to do is fulfill the orders one at a time, then check the information so you know which driver will pick them up. You'll also get access to data, analytics and other important information that helps you track your progress. Get in touch with Cuboh today to schedule your free demonstration.