The
Science
of
Adrian Pennington, Freelance journalist
W
We know about every technical advance that enhances the movie-going experience, from digital projectors to multidimensional sound systems. But what about the cutting-edge technology that goes into creating the world’s favourite cinema snack? e’ve been to Dolby to see how they build their range of products and what they achieve is truly incredible. But there is just as much, if not more, technology and R&D in popcorn than in any other aspect of the movie theatre,” says Thomas Peace, International Sales for Nebraska-based farming collective Preferred Popcorn. What would movies be like without this salty, buttery
snack? Americans alone consume 16 billion quarts of the stuff every year. Two thirds of this is consumed at home, and a third in the cinema and at other events like baseball games, according to the Popcorn Board. For cinema owners, the humble puffed snack, whose
popularity grew during the Great Depression when it was an inexpensive meal, is a revenue lifeline. For years, the exhibitor business model has been built on ticket price plus concessions; one without the other means swiftly going out of business. When it comes to popcorn, cinema owners want a seed-
to-snack treat that leaves more snacks than seeds when
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