Foodland to
sell event tickets
Vending machines will be
By Russ Lynch
placed in 27 stores
Star-BulletinGrocery shoppers in Hawaii will be able to add show tickets to their shopping lists thanks to an arrangement announced today by Foodland Super Market Ltd. and Ticket Plus Inc.
Within the next 60 days, ticket vending machines will be installed at the courtesy counters in all 27 of the company's Foodland and Sack N Save stores, said Jenai Wall, Foodland president and chief executive officer.
"Now our customers can buy their groceries and buy tickets to concerts, shows and special events in Hawaii," she said today.
Tickets will be printed immediately for purchasers, she said. There will be a service charge on top of the ticket price. The Ticket Plus service charge is geared to the price of the tickets and generally ranges from more than $1 to nearly $5.
Ticket Plus, an international agency affiliated with Ticket Express Inc. in Malaysia and the Philippines, set up its corporate headquarters in Honolulu in March. The company later signed up the City and County of Honolulu so it could sell tickets for events at the Neal Blaisdell Center and the Waikiki Shell.
Before the Ticket Plus entry, the city's computerized ticket sales were handled by a Minneapolis-based firm called The Connection, which had drawn complaints about its lack of familiarity with Hawaii. The Connection closed its operation in February, saying its sales weren't strong enough to justify staying in business.
In addition to the city, other clients of Ticker Plus include the Honolulu Symphony, Tom Moffatt Productions, Bob Peyton Entertainment, Golden Voice Presents, Bumping Sunset Promotions, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, the Hawaii Theatre and the Honolulu Academy of the Arts.
"This brings ticket sales into the heart of the communities," said Manuel Sanchez, chief executive of Tickets Plus. In addition to the Foodland and Sack N Save stores, Tickets Plus has outlets in some record shops across the state and the University of Hawaii Campus Center.
The company also sells tickets to Hawaii events worldwide through the Internet at www.TicketsLive.com and sells tickets to Hawaii residents for events in other states and countries through another web site, www.Tickets .com.
That site also sells travel on cruise lines and airlines.
The arrangement between Ticket Plus and Foodland was to be launched formally late this morning at the Beretania Street Foodland store.
