Allwyn opens nominations for Local Retail Champions 2025
Last year's inaugural campaign generated nearly 1,000 nominations from customers recognising retailers for community contributions.
Key points:
– Allwyn launches second annual Local Retail Champions with nominations open until 19 October
– New ‘Innovation Award’ category added for 2025, rewarding creative ideas for celebrating good causes
– Campaign builds on successful 2024 launch that generated nearly 1,000 nominations
Allwyn has launched the second edition of its ‘Local Retail Champions’ awards, with nominations now open to recognise shopkeepers across the UK who go above and beyond for their communities.
Running until midnight on 19 October, the awards will celebrate two national and 16 regional winners, with nominations submitted by customers aged 18 and over.
The initiative follows the success of the inaugural 2024 campaign, which saw nearly 1,000 retailers nominated.
Last year’s winners included Raj and Manish Suchak of Coldean Convenience in Brighton, and Natalie and Martin Lightfoot of Londis Solo Convenience Store in Glasgow, both recognised for their wide-ranging community initiatives.
New for 2025 is an Innovation Award, allowing retailers to submit their own ideas for celebrating National Lottery Good Causes in their stores. Two winners will each receive £2,500 ($3,388) in cash, plus up to £2,500 in funding to bring their concepts to life.
Allwyn is again partnering with Reach to promote the campaign across national and regional publications, with in-store posters also being introduced for the first time this year.
Good to know: Prizes for 2025 include £15,000 for each of the two national winners and £5,000 for each regional winner
Commenting on the initiative, Alison Acquaye-Acford, Allwyn’s Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales, stated: “Local Retail Champions is back and we’re excited to once again be celebrating National Lottery retailers making a massive difference in their communities.
“As we saw from last year’s almost-1,000 store nominations, retailers right around the UK are doing incredible things to support their communities every single day. We want to find even more great stories again this year and reward retailers for their dedication and goodwill.
“As an organisation that is committed to positively contributing to society in how we go about our business, and with retailers helping to raise £30m every week for National Lottery Good Causes by selling tickets to players, it’s really important to us that we recognise and celebrate the incredible impact local retailers have on the places we live, work and visit.”
The programme is supported by Allwyn’s £1m Social Value Fund, aimed at helping communities and high streets across the UK and the Isle of Man.
The winners will be announced at a dedicated awards ceremony on 20 November.
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