Scottish store owners celebrate with Allwyn – and Spar Scotland boosts charities
ALLWYN has been ensuring that c-store owners as well as consumers can win with them, while Spar Scotland has been celebrating a year of making donations to good causes.
Two schemes run by National Lottery firm Allwyn has seen a number of Scottish retailers become big cash winners.
Leading Scottish c-store operators Natalie and Martin Lightfoot scooped one of the two top £25,000 prizes up for grabs at the inaugural Local Retail Champions Awards.
The owners of Londis Solo Convenience Store in Baillieston, Glasgow, were recognised for their community endeavours at a special ceremony in London, alongside 16 regional winners who were each awarded £5,000.
These included Louise and Chris Cobb, from KeyStore Cults, Aberdeen, and Robin Bawa, who runs Stevenston Post Office in Ayrshire.
The initiative had asked the public to nominate National Lottery retailers who had gone above and beyond to support their local community – with almost 1,000 stores put forward.
The top prizes were made up of £5,000 cash and a “social value” store makeover of £20,000.
Natalie said: “I’m so proud of my shop, I joke that it’s my fourth child. It’s lovely when other people recognise something that you’re so passionate about.”
And Drummond Miller, the owner of forecourt site KeyStore More Dalkeith, known locally as Fordel Services, was the first beneficiary of Allwyn’s new “Share the Win” initiative.
It rewards National Lottery retailers with up to £10,000 when they sell a high-value winning ticket or Scratchcard.
Drummond netted £5,000 for selling a winning Thunderball ticket worth £500,000 to a customer. He said: “This is wonderful news for us and for all my potential future winners.”
And Spar Scotland has revealed that it has donated more than £175,000 to local community groups across the country during 2024.
The donations have supported a wide range of initiatives, including contributions to Spar’s national charity partner, Marie Curie, support through the 2024 Spar Community Cashback campaign, and individual donations to countless local charities, groups, and events throughout Scotland.
Contributions have been tailored to meet community needs, taking the form of cash, vouchers, or products. A significant portion of this support has gone towards sponsoring local football and other sporting teams, as well as local events that align with Spar’s core values of promoting healthy and active lifestyles.
Spar Scotland chief exececutive Colin McLean said: “We are incredibly proud of the support we have been able to provide local communities in 2024. Being there for our communities is one of our most important brand values, and we will continue to champion local causes that make a difference throughout 2025.
“Many requests come directly from individuals, while others are highlighted by our network of SPAR stores and independent retailers, who are deeply embedded in their local areas. This grassroots approach ensures that support is directed where it is needed most, creating meaningful impacts on local causes and initiatives.”
