(photo by Michael Dequina)
For the second consecutive year, Cinema United President and CEO, Michael O'Leary, gave media a formal tour of a small selection of vendors exhibiting on the trade show. In either an extension of the ideas in MPA President Charles Rivkin's address or sheer coincidence, O'Leary centered this year's tour on vendors based in the United States.
Redemption Plus:Based in Overland Park, Kansas, the company specializes in
product and merchandising solutions for
family entertainment centers and movie theatres.
Think of the "claw" arcade games with stuffed animals and other toys,
as well as merchandise prizes that can be awarded
through the redemption of points, tickets, et al.
Pictured with Michael O'Leary: Aimeé Dolehanty.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
TK Architects International:There would be no movie theatres without companies such as this one,
based in Kansas City, Missouri, which specializes in archictecture,
interior design, and engineering for cinemas.
Pictured with Michael O'Leary: Theresa English.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Dippin' Dots:Long billed as "the ice cream of the future,"
the micro-spherical frozen dairy "dots" dessert
headquartered in Padukah, Kentucky is a mainstay of the trade show,
and as it closes in on nearly 40 years of business,
continues to thrive and grow its product flavor line.
Pictured: Bryan Carney.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
The Icee Company:Even more of a mainstay of cinemas and life as a whole
is the La Vergne, Tennessee-based frozen beverage,
which also continues to grow its flavor line alongside
its reliable tastes of cherry and blue raspberry.
Pictured: Jason Pope.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Sysco:On the flip side of those two, this Houston, Texas-based
company is just entering the cinema sector,
expanding its food distribution business to offer
candy, snacks, and beverages to movie theatres.
Pictured: Kristin Holt.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Cretors:This Wood Dale, Illinois-based company is not resting on
its laurels as being the "inventors of the original popcorn machine,"
for they continue to make innovations in its specialty,
such as the introduction of self-serve poppers.
Pictured with Michael O'Leary: Andrew Cretors.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Bartesian:What better way to cap off this year's guided tour than with an adult beverage,
courtesy of this Chicago, Illinois-based maker of
premium, single-serve cocktail machines.
Already available for personal home use,
the company is offering its system to cinemas.
Pictured: Casey Cline.
(photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for CinemaCon)
Right after the tour's end, I made my regular rounds for a closer look at this year's offerings. First, down the escalator to the Julius Ballroom, which, as usual, is dominated by food and drink companies.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
(animated photo by Michael Dequina)
(photo by Michael Dequina)
CinemaCon Cola Wars, 2025 edition, Part 1:Coca-Cola, which will have
the largest trade floor footprint as long as it
remains the convention's presenting sponsor.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Display devoted to Coca-Cola's long-runningRefreshing Films competition program.
The student filmmaker finalists are set to make
scheduled appearances at this space.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
The big attraction at this year's display, though,was the offer of personalized Coca-Cola cans
(really just personalized decals on slim 12-ounce cans).
(photo by Michael Dequina)
CinemaCon Cola Wars, 2024 edition, Part 2:PepsiCo's display,
which retained its standard set-up of the last few years.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Keurig Dr. Pepper booth,this year at the directly opposite side of the hall from 2024.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
A familiar brand making, as far as I can tell,its debut trade show appearance:
Otis Spunkmeyer cookies.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
A big attention grabber in this ballroom is NUS Upholstery,trotting out a Jeep as the centerpiece of its space.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
After having the (non-alcoholic) beverage market corneredin the more technology-focused Augustus Ballroom in 2024,
Frazil, maker of slushy drinks,
was in its more "proper" place with other food and drink vendors
in the Julius -- and as such did not
receive nearly as much traffic as last year.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Speaking of alcoholic beverages,after TendedBar's success last year,
there were more alcohol offerings on the floor this year,
such as Broken Earth Winery...
(photo by Michael Dequina)
...and the Bartesian cocktail machine,previously mentioned as part of the formal press tour.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Another trade show trend not only continuing but growingis the ever-popular themed popcorn bucket, with numerous vendors
offering the often-viral movie mementoes.
Here's a selection from Snapco / SaberIn...
(photo by Michael Dequina)
...and Golden Link, whose more prime positioningon the floor gave them the most foot traffic.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Now to round the corner and take an escalator up to the more typically tech-focused Augustus Ballroom...
(photo by Michael Dequina)
(photo by Michael Dequina)
...where waiting is another vendor offeringpopcorn buckets and other promotional items,
Zinc Group, which was part of
2024's inaugural trade show press tour.
(Last year, though, they were downstairs in the Julius.)
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Much like how Coca-Cola dominates the Julius Ballroom,Dolby rules the roost in the Augustus.
This year's floor space has a typically imposing entryway...
(photo by Michael Dequina)
...but unlike most recent years,the space is much more open and thus more inviting.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Back for another year is 4D E-Motion,whose 4D demonstration booth
remains a draw in this room.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
Also returning this year is the beverage dispensing system TendedBar,but to far less traffic than last year's debut.
The likely explanation? No free alcohol this year unlike last.
(photo by Michael Dequina)
While smaller bowling games wouldn't be unusual to see in a cinema arcade,Qubica AMF posits that exhibitors could easily install the real thing,
as shown in what has been a popular installation in their trade show space.
Small enough to fit in a cinema but large enough to feel like a true alley lane,
this self-contained system would be an interesting idea for
some theatres with the extra space to implement.
(photos by Michael Dequina)
Stay tuned here and on my Instagram, TikTok, Spill (user name: @twotrey23 ), and Twitter all week for ongoing coverage of all the goings-on at CinemaCon 2025!
(Very special thanks to Heather Lewandoski and the CinemaCon PR team for all their helpful and generous assistance at the convention, as well as Mitch Neuhauser and the CinemaCon crew and Harry Medved and the Cinema United team)
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