When I was in high school, myself and a group were engaging in a classic teenage pastime: wandering aimlessly through a mall.
We were in the gone-but-not-forgotten Eau Claire Market, wreaking mild loitering havoc by perusing wares we had neither the intention nor means of buying.
All the while, the familiar, buttery and salty smell of movie theatre popcorn wafted from the top floor’s cinema, taunting our perpetually hungry teenage stomachs.
The temptation was too much for one of my more well-off friends to bear. We watched in awe as he walked up to the counter, paid the exorbitant cost of a large popcorn, and declined the purchase of a movie ticket to go with it.
The popcorn was fantastic as always, but as we munched on the hot, buttery goodness, I couldn’t shake the feeling he’d spent way too much money.
It was the first and only time I’ve eaten movie popcorn without the accompaniment of a movie. But with Landmark Cinemas now collaborating with Too Good to Go, I’ll be doing that a lot more.
Too Good to Go is a mobile app which collaborates with local businesses to reduce their food waste. Businesses box up food that would otherwise be thrown away, and sell “surprise bags” at a discounted price. The company partners with 16,000 businesses across the country. Local favourites like Lina’s Italian Market and Cafe are offering up bags of baked goods and pantry essentials for a killer price.
The collaboration with Landmark Cinemas kicked off on June 27 this year, with 28 Landmark locations across the country participating. Calgary’s own Market Mall, Country Hills Village and Shawnessy locations all have goodies up for grabs.
There’s two options for the Too Good to Go surprise bags, one with a retail value of $24 which will cost you $7.99, and can include popcorn, nachos, cookie bites and hot dogs. The larger bag has a retail value of $33 and costs $10.99, and can include all the same goodies, plus pizza and pretzels. Considering a large popcorn like my friend bought will run you nearly 10 bucks on its own, it’s one hell of a deal.
What exactly you get in your bag is a toss up. It depends on what hasn’t sold on that particular day. But considering all the popcorn theatres make on a daily basis, that’s a pretty safe bet. At the end of the day no matter what you get, you’ve saved a delicious snack from going to the landfill.
“As a company committed to delivering unforgettable movie experiences, we also recognize our responsibility to reduce our environmental impact,” said Landmark’s President, Dave Cohen. “Partnering with Too Good To Go allows us to turn surplus concessions into an opportunity to fight food waste and take another meaningful step toward sustainability.”
People love movie theatre popcorn, no matter where they are. But going to the movies ain’t cheap, now more than ever. Pre-pandemic general admission at Landmark Cinemas would run you $13.99. The price has shot up to $16.75 since then. And you’ve got concessions on top of that.
Your popcorn and candy could easily cost you double the price of your ticket, so a Too Good to Go bag isn’t a bad way to fulfill your movie munchies. The bags have selectable pick up windows throughout the day, so choosing a window that aligns with your movie’s start time is a great way to save a few bucks.
“By saving surplus snacks and treats from going to waste, we’re not only helping the planet, we’re also making sustainability accessible and fun,” said Chris MacAulay, vice president of Too Good To Go North America. “This partnership shows that even the simple joy of going to the movies can be part of a larger movement toward a more waste-conscious, affordable future.”
The Too Good to Go app is available to download for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
