Blending brand power with big-ticket prizes, the launch lands alongside a nationwide marketing campaign.

The Deal or No Deal Scratchcard is under licence from Scientific Games, LLC and is the first licensed National Lottery Scratchcard in more than five years. Players have a chance to win one of four top prizes of £1.5 million, and a 1 in 3.49 chance of winning a prize.

This new Scratchcard matches the National Lottery brand with the unique tension and excitement of Deal or No Deal. Naturally, The Banker is at the heart of the campaign, inviting players to “take the hot seat” and decide whether they want to deal… or not.

Over February and March, Allwyn will promote the new Scratchcard with a broad suite of launch activations to drive strong engagement and sales.

This will comprise a nationwide multichannel marketing campaign, including digital display, paid and organic social, audio activations, out-of-home, plus a striking Euston station platform takeover on the Transport for London network.

Retail stores will feature a full range of National Lottery point-of-sale materials, such as flash and arrow dispensers, tax disc/wing assets, media, kiosk and front-of-store (FOS) screens, bunting and FOS standees.

Steve Parkinson, Marketing and Brand Director at Allwyn said: “Deal or No Deal is one of the UK’s most recognisable game shows, and it’s a perfect fit for our Scratchcard range. This new game blends all the tension, drama and fun of the show with the instant thrill of a Scratchcard, creating a compelling experience for both loyal National Lottery players and new audiences.

“And, as always, every time someone plays a National Lottery game, they help contribute to the £32 million raised every week for UK Good Causes.”

Deal or No Deal © 2003 – 2026 Banijay Entertainment.  Deal or No Deal is a registered trademark of Endemol Shine IP B.V., a Banijay Company.  Used with permission.  All rights reserved. 

The post Allwyn launches the £5 Deal or No Deal National Lottery Scratchcard first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Part of a large network made up of back up and support crews, the symbol sector serves millions of customers across the region with the backing of Northern Ireland’s leading food retail and wholesale companies.

The symbol sector here is unique, with a precious place on the fabric of every community, both urban and rural, which has evolved over the past 50 years to the extent that a town, village or city without its symbol is simply unimaginable.

Consumers like names they can trust, and symbol groups are the perfect combination of local faces with trusted brands, thus encouraging return trade and a relationship between shopper and store.

The latest figures from Worldpanel by Numerator show that take-home grocery sales rose by 2.2% in Northern Ireland last year to 25^th January 2026, while grocery inflation currently stands at 7.03%, up from 6.20% the previous month.

Shoppers are savvy and continue to look for ways to manage household bills and as part of this, they are returning to store more often, picking up less each time.

What they are choosing to buy is also important, with branded goods continuing to perform well, with spending up £72.3 million, a 3% year-on-year increase, lifting their value share to 55% as shoppers turned to brands they know and trust.

Own-label ranges also grew, up 0.9%, with an extra £16 million spent, taking their share to 42.7% of the market by value. Premium own-label stood out in particular, rising by 11.4% as shoppers spent an additional £16.6 million on these ranges.

Additionally, promotions played a bigger role than ever, with discounted items now accounting for 26.4% of value sales, a new record in Northern Ireland and an uplift of 3.9 percentage points versus last year.

Convenience is key and is becoming the cornerstone of everyday life. Gone are the corner shops of yesteryear. It’s all about the customer experience – and symbol stores have taken that concept to heart – by making the efficiency and ease of shopping at the core.

The symbol sector has actively capitalised on making the ‘shopper experience’ at the centre of their business ethos – smart, stylish, well lit, clean, clear labelling – with value for money being the driving force – this savvy sense of driving the sector forward has its roots in research, category management, and sound business sense.

At the cutting edge of change, the symbol sector is creating great shopping experiences for customers – with independent retailers in the optimum position of being able to offer a personal approach, with their stores at the heart of many communities, store owners and their staff know their customers personally, are able to communicate and connect on a level which in turn ensures loyalty and support for what they do, alongside the essential services and facilities they are known for.

SEE OUR SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE NORTHERN IRELAND SYMBOL SECTOR IN THE 2026 YEARBOOK & MARKETING GUIDE HERE

The post A complete overview of the Symbol Sector in Northern Ireland first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Born on 3^rd January 1976, Seamus (Shay) Toman attended St Brendan’s Primary School, and Lismore Comprehensive Secondary School in Craigavon, before travelling to St Mary’s University in London to study teaching.

His entrepreneurial spirit led him on to study business and he managed Pizza Hut restaurants in Dublin before managing Subway stores in Belfast.

Seamus later franchised six Subway stores in Coleraine, Lurgan, Magherafelt, Portrush and in Belfast at St George’s Market and Connswater, with four stores still trading in his name today.

Deputy Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Ald Richard Brown Stewart said: “I met Shay back in 2008 in Subway and he persuaded me to move to Belfast and he very kindly gave me a job and let me live with him.

“We had some amazing memories over the years when I lived in Belfast and I can’t thank him enough for all that he did for me. He was the kindest person with the biggest heart, and he was a great friend.”

Moya McConnell, Chair of Éire Óg Scór, Craigavon, has paid tribute to an “infectious personality” and influential key figure who had been part of the Scór community since 1985.

Commemorating the life and contribution of their esteemed member, Moya said: “Seamus’s commitment to Éire óg Scór will always be remembered. From an early age, Seamus’s commitment and determination to Scór was second to none. Not only did he thrive on stage but his infectious personality also brought out the best in everyone.

“Although he competed in most disciplines, he shone in a recitation and novelty act and passed down his knowledge to young members. His recitation of ‘Slum Clearance’ had the audience captivated, it was said with such true feeling and emotion.

“He was someone I could always count on and was only a phone call away. He will be truly missed.”

Seamus was very generous and committed to charity work. He sponsored local sports clubs and amateur sports people. He sponsored families in need and bought them Christmas presents every year. He opened the Lurgan Subway shop on Christmas Day for people with nowhere else to go and provided them with free food and drink for the whole day.

Seamus loved Eurovision and made many friends internationally from travelling extensively to host cities. He also enjoyed travelling to Spain where he tragically passed away on 21^st January.

Seamus is survived by his parents Sean and Helen and his siblings Shauneen and Ruairi. His family would like to thank the kind families, neighbours and friends who helped and comforted them during this difficult time. They would also like to thank Fr Colum Wright of St Paul’s in Lurgan for a “beautiful” funeral service, alongside Louise and Ciara who provided the music, and Jack McLearnon & Son Funeral Directors for their dedication throughout the arranging of Shay’s funeral.

Seamus’s Month’s Mind Mass will be held on Saturday 21^st February in St Paul’s Church, Lurgan at 7pm.

Donations in lieu, if desired, are for The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust via https://kbrtrust.com/donations/

Written by Paige Toman

The post Lurgan businessman remembered after tragic passing first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Data from the final day of the scheme reveals that a total of 12,463 eligible claims were submitted between 2020 when the scheme opened and when it closed on 31^st January this year.

It was also noted there was a sharp increase in applications in the weeks before the closing deadline, which is still being processed by the Post Office, meaning the number of ‘claims received’ is expected to rise.

The Horizon Shortfall Scheme is operated by the Post Office and is for current and former postmasters who experienced shortfalls related to previous versions of the Horizon system. The closing date was set at 31^st January 2026 in response to a recommendation made by Public Inquiry Chair Sir Wyn Williams in his Volume 1 report.

The latest figures from 31^st January show that of the 12,463 eligible claims, offers have been made to 10,940 people; 88% of eligible claims have received an offer. To date, £863 million has been paid through the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. Of this, nearly £548 million was paid out in 2025 alone (over 63%).

The rate at which claims are being completed has improved, with an eightfold increase in the number of Horizon Shortfall Scheme claims resolved in 2025 compared with 2024.

Last year saw a number of important changes made to the scheme in order to improve efficiency and provide greater support to help people with their applications. For example, those who have applied now have a dedicated person to contact with queries or concerns about their application as it progresses through the scheme, so they can stay updated while the Post Office’s Remediation Contact Centre is also available by phone or email.

Remediation Director at Post Office, Joanne Hanley said she was glad that people had taken the opportunity to submit their applications to the scheme.

“Our specialist teams are fully committed to processing applications as quickly as possible to bring resolution for those who have applied, and we are aiming to complete the majority of Fixed Sum Offer claims by summer 2026 and the majority of fully assessed claims by the end of the year,” she said.

Managed by the Department for Business and Trade, the scheme process is also available for applicants who are unhappy with their offer to ensure they have the full opportunity to receive fair redress.

The post Over 12,000 eligible claims made to scheme before closure first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Our flagship issue of the year, the 2026 Yearbook and Marketing Guide is our most comprehensive yet, packed with unique insight, exclusive commentary and specialist supplements – making it a must-read magazine for your industry.

At-a-glance…

SPECIAL ARTICLES AND ANALYSIS

• Major players within NI retail discuss highlights from the last 12 months and share exciting developments for the year ahead
• Industry comments from top CEOs and market leaders with their outlook for 2026
• All you need to know about the 2026 NR Awards – including their return to iconic Belfast hotel and entry details!
• The annual NR Symbol Review looking at the success of the sector here
• Trade Associations – the trusted list of names you need to know
• All the latest news and information affecting the grocery industry

STORE PROFILES AND FEATURES:

• Multi-award-winning Creighton Group reflects on huge successes at 2025 NR Awards and what’s in store for the year ahead
• Agents and Distributors – the vital cogs that keep the whole machine turning
• NI Fuel Review – NR examines the fuel and forecourt industry, with insights from those within the sector

READ ALL THIS AND MUCH MORE IN THE 2026 YEARBOOK AND MARKETING GUIDE HERE

The post 2026 Yearbook and Marketing Guide is now live online! first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.