Food Innovation Takes Centre Stage at Cinépolis Cinemas Nationwide

The Blockbuster Food Festival will evaluate 21 new dishes across 40 plus Indian cities

Hyderabad, January 09, 2026: Cinépolis India has rolled out a nationwide food and beverage initiative with the launch of the Blockbuster Food Festival, a three month campaign running from January through March 2026 across all its cinema locations in India. The programme will test 21 newly developed menu items, with consumer response determining which offerings become permanent additions to the company’s food portfolio.
The festival forms the next phase of FOOVIES, Cinépolis India’s integrated food and movies platform introduced earlier this year. With operations spanning more than 80 locations across over 40 cities, the cinema chain is using its national footprint as a live testing environment to gather real time feedback on food preferences and consumption behaviour.

According to industry data shared by the company, India’s food and beverage to ticket spend ratio currently stands at approximately 50 to 55 percent, significantly lower than the global average of 100 percent. Cinépolis views this gap as an opportunity for growth and is focusing on menu innovation as a key lever to increase in cinema food engagement.
Devang Sampat, Managing Director of Cinépolis India, said food and beverage already contributes close to 30 percent of the company’s revenue. He noted that audiences are increasingly viewing food as an integral part of the cinema experience rather than a secondary purchase. The Blockbuster Food Festival, he added, allows the company to test ideas at scale and retain only those items that resonate strongly with moviegoers.

The rotating festival menu includes a mix of regional flavours and indulgent desserts. Offerings such as Desi Chicken Keema with Kulcha, Hot Garlic Kurkure Momos, and Dal Vada Tikki are being tested alongside items like Potato Bomb and Peanut Butter Cheesecake. New dishes will be introduced in phases over the three month period to assess sustained consumer interest.
Cinépolis India stated that the initiative reflects a broader shift toward data led menu development, where audience feedback directly influences long term food strategy. At the conclusion of the festival, the best performing items will be integrated into the regular FOOVIES menu across the circuit.

The company operates hundreds of screens across India and continues to invest in differentiated cinema experiences, with food innovation emerging as a key component of its engagement strategy.

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