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Topic: Sony Worries About Our Waistline

Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-15-2010 06:14 PM

Yeah, I trust them with my health:

http://www.al.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-37/1268691627275930.xml&storylist=new_topstories

quote:
Sony boss asks theater owners for healthier snacks

3/15/2010, 4:22 p.m. CDT
The Associated Press
(AP) — LAS VEGAS - The head of Sony Pictures suggested Monday that movie theaters offer healthier snacks to help fight obesity and give audiences a broader range of food choices.

Michael Lynton, chairman and chief executive officer for Sony, told theater owners at their annual ShoWest convention that a survey by the studio at 26 U.S. theaters found that two-thirds of movie-goers said they would be likely to buy healthy concessions if available.

The survey also found that 60 percent of parents thought that healthier concessions would enhance the moviegoing experience and that 42 percent of parents would buy concessions at theaters more often if healthier choices were offered, Lynton said.

"I don't mean close the window for popcorn, soda and candy. Audiences love them and should always be able to buy them at your theaters," Lynton said in the keynote address as the four-day convention opened. "I can almost imagine the Romans eating popcorn and drinking Coke at the Coliseum 2,000 years ago. Or the Greeks munching on Sno-Caps at the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens."

But "by bringing healthier snacks into your concession stands, you would be helping our country meet an urgent public health need," Lynton said.

According to Lynton, healthier food selections suggested by those surveyed include fruit cups, vegetables with dip, yogurt, granola bars, baked chips and unbuttered, air-popped popcorn.

Lynton said the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, launched by former President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association to fight childhood obesity, has offered to help advise theaters on healthier concession items.

© 2010 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 03-15-2010 06:47 PM

Does anyone think most chains will be choosing healthy versions of those things?

Are veggies healthy? Yes. When you add dip? Highly unlikely to be a yes. Is popcorn without oil healthy? Not remotely. Is fruit healthy? Yes. Are fruit cups? Not when fruit cup usually means "fruit cocktail" which really means "sugar-water flavored by a small amount of fruit." Etc.

It will seriously NOT be about stocking items that ARE HEALTHY, but will be about stocking items that APPEAR HEALTHY.

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 03-15-2010 07:07 PM

During one of the big movie popcorn scares (OMG! Coconut oil!) Act III Theaters started offering air-popped unbuttered popcorn here. It was in sealed bags like potato chips come in. I tried it, once. It was horrible.

People may say they want "healthier" movie snacks. I suspect reality will generally not support that claim.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-15-2010 07:15 PM

We already stock a healthy option for both popcorn and soda. It's called "small."

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 03-15-2010 07:21 PM

quote: David Stambaugh
During one of the big movie popcorn scares (OMG! Coconut oil!) Act III Theaters started offering air-popped unbuttered popcorn here. It was in sealed bags like potato chips come in. I tried it, once. It was horrible.

And the "OMG Coconut Oil!" crowd all ignored that the research indicating coconut oil to be bad only looked at hydrogenated coconut oil. Natural coconut oil is actually quite healthy.

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Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 593
From: London, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 03-15-2010 08:19 PM

No-one going to a Sony tentpole release wants to buy a healthy snack. I couldn't have dealt with 2012 unless I'd got the packet of candy to go with my large popcorn and drink. People forget that for lots of people the food is a part of the escape from reality which is what people want from the Cinema.

There was a terrible piece of journalism in (our) The Times and a couple of other outlets recently about calories and portion sizes. It completely missed the more interesting issues (for me waste and profit margins), just went on with the usual scare tactics and 'we should warn people' rubbish.

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 03-15-2010 09:12 PM

Aside from juice boxes and fruit snacks for the kiddies, customers have proven time and time again that "healthy snacks" do not sell at movie theaters.

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Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 03-16-2010 10:16 AM

Fresh fruit and veggies have a shelf life of less than over night. Where does Sony expect that shit to be stored and kept fresh? We sell the healthiest beverage there is---bottled water and it goes very fast, even though we offer a free cup and ice for use with the water fountains if they ask.

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Martin McCaffery
Film God

Posts: 2481
From: Montgomery, AL
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-16-2010 01:55 PM

Let's say a theatre starts selling oranges. In season they are about 3 for $1 at the grocery store. With the usual theatre markup, they would be about $3 each. Does anyone really think the average movie going person off the street will pay $3 for an orange?

Even with my older art film crowd, we tried selling "healthy snacks" and they sat there for a very long time. The main consumers of the junk food we sell are the under-30's, who would be the least interested in "healthy" food.

Do you think Mr Lynton recently acquired a health freak trophy bride? [evil]

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Caleb Johnstone-Cowan
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 593
From: London, UK
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 03-16-2010 07:48 PM

If he has he is doing better for himself than those of us who consume far too many cinema snacks [Big Grin]

It's almost impossible for me to watch something, even if it's artsy and/or serious, without at least a large Coke and some candy now.

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Louis Bornwasser
Film God

Posts: 4441
From: prospect ky usa
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 03-17-2010 08:39 PM

Puullllleeeze!!! Do these people just wake up with a new brain fart one day?

Sales, all sales, is "find a need and fill it! This is no different. (Not only that, but from the Beta/SDDS people as well.) Louis

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Tony Bandiera Jr
Film God

Posts: 3067
From: Moreland Idaho
Registered: Apr 2004

posted 03-17-2010 09:13 PM

quote: Louis Bornwasser
Sales, all sales, is "find a need and fill it! This is no different. (Not only that, but from the Beta/SDDS people as well.) Louis

Thank you Louis for the perfect lead-in for my post. [Big Grin]

This gem of brilliance comes from the same people who brought Beta and SDDS!! Get the picture?

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Manny Montes
Master Film Handler

Posts: 270
From: United States
Registered: Feb 2010

posted 03-17-2010 11:51 PM

I could never see a theater selling fruit, and I don't think that is what he is calling for.

To be honest, while I think it will fail, it's not a bad gesture to try at least. My theater sells juices (actual ones, not the sugared stuff) and what's wrong with trying to sell some granola bars or maybe yogurt?

I don't feel we should baby people and "WARN THEM" though, but providing healthier options is never a bad thing.

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Chris Slycord
Film God

Posts: 2986
From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea
Registered: Mar 2007

posted 03-18-2010 12:09 AM

I still predict that if some of the big chains try this out it will end up being "sell them something that appears to be healthy and isn't." For instance, most granola bars sold at the grocery store aren't all that healthy.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 03-18-2010 01:37 AM

We sell a surprising amount of bottled water, but really don't get many calls for other "healthy" options.

The truth is, for about 90% of moviegoers, that movie outing is the one time they don't give a hoot about their health. They're out to have a good time, and it includes joyously eating something that's bad for them.

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