Running from 12^th August to 1^stSeptember, the nationwide ‘Because Of You – £3 Billion’ campaign will highlight the connection between playing The National Lottery and supporting thousands of projects that strengthen communities, improve well-being and create opportunities for people of all ages.

The nationwide campaign will be visible across Co-op stores in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, utilising a combination of National Lottery retail assets, Co-op retail media channels and dedicated activations to bring to life the impact of National Lottery funding.

Over three weeks, the campaign will feature bespoke National Lottery playstation messaging, thank-you posters and special £3bn display units in selected high-footfall stores, helping to connect players with the Good Causes they support.

The initiative will also leverage Co-op’s media network, with messaging appearing on digital till screens, in-store radio, pin-pad surrounds, front-of-store digital displays, floor vinyls, targeted member communications and social media advertising.

Five stores across the UK will receive dedicated takeovers showcasing local National Lottery-funded projects and the positive impact they are having on their communities.

Featured organisations, who also received funding and support from Co-op’s Local Community Fund, include:

• Footprints Women’s Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland. which has supported women and families in its community for decades.
• Teens Unite Fighting Cancer in Hertfordshire, which supports young people living with and beyond cancer.
• Stretford Children’s Theatre in Greater Manchester, helping children and young people build confidence through the arts.
• The Inverclyde Shed in Scotland, which tackles loneliness and social isolation through community-led activities.
• The Swansea Wellbeing Centre in Wales, which provides accessible wellbeing services to people from all walks of life.

Together, these projects have received more than £1.7m in National Lottery funding and showcase the breadth and diversity of the Good Causes supported by National Lottery players.

A celebration also took place at Co-op’s Manchester headquarters on 19^th August, where teams came together to mark the achievement. The event featured the presentation of a commemorative ‘£3 Billion Thank You’ plaque by colleagues from Allwyn and Co-op, and was attended by representatives from Guide Dogs UK, which has received more than £1.5 million in National Lottery funding since 2014. Local volunteers joined the Atrium event alongside Jumble, an 11-month-old Golden Retriever guide dog puppy in training.

Kate McCrae, Co-op Retail Director, said: “Whether you pop to Co-op for a pint of milk, lunchtime meal deal or dinner, many people also enjoy playing the lottery. Every ticket bought has helped to make a difference, and this amazing sum raised via Co-op since the Lottery first began more than 30 years ago has helped to fund causes that support stronger communities, improve well-being and, create opportunities for people of all ages in towns, villages and cities across the UK.”

Bridget Lea, Managing Director – Retail at Allwyn added: “Reaching £3bn raised for National Lottery Good Causes through Co-op stores is a remarkable milestone. Every National Lottery player who has ever purchased a ticket at Co-op has helped make a difference to communities across the UK.

“This campaign is our opportunity to say thank you – to players, to the incredible Co-op team and to everyone who has helped deliver life-changing National Lottery funding over the past three decades. The projects featured in this campaign are powerful examples of the positive impact made possible by National Lottery players, the length and breadth of the UK, every single day.”

The post Allwyn and Co-op celebrate £3bn raised for Good Causes with landmark campaign first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

It’s time to start the countdown to this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards! We are delighted to begin sharing our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. Here, we find out more about our sponsor Philip Morris Limited (PMI), who are sponsoring the CTN of the Year award.

Championing our retail partners is central to our mission to build a smoke-free future, which is why we are delighted to be sponsoring the Confectionery, Tobacco and Newsagent (CTN) of the Year at the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards.

As cigarette sales decline and more adult smokers look for alternatives to cigarettes, smoke-free products are the next generation of innovation. Growth is strong when retailers can offer real choice across categories and can responsibly meet the needs and expectations of every adult smoker as they switch away from cigarettes.

We are supporting our retail partners with our multi-category portfolio to stand out against competitors and satisfy the evolving adult consumer demand.

Paul Dufourne, Director of Commercial Operations at PML, the UK and Ireland affiliate of PMI said: ‘We are looking forward to collaborating with Neighbourhood Retailer to recognise and reward the exceptional CTN stores in Northern Ireland.

“We wish the best of luck to all nominees and hope you have a fantastic night of celebration.”

DON’T MISS OUT ON BEING THERE – BOOK YOUR TABLE AT THE 2026 NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER AWARDS HERE!

The post Philip Morris International – a global smoke-free champion first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

It’s time to start the countdown to this year’s Neighbourhood Retailer Awards! We are delighted to begin sharing our wonderful sponsors in our special feature, Sponsor Spotlight. To get us underway, we find out more about our Platinum Sponsor, Allwyn, who is also sponsoring the Community Store of the Year award, from Bridget Lea, Managing Director – Retail.

On behalf of everyone at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, we are delighted to be the overall sponsor for the prestigious Neighbourhood Retailer Awards. Recognising and celebrating the fantastic achievements of passionate retailers across Northern Ireland is something we are honoured to support.

Having recently joined Allwyn at such an exciting time, following the successful transformation of our retail estate, I’m thrilled to be working closely with our dedicated National Lottery retail partners as we take the next steps of our journey.

Allwyn has completed the biggest transformation in The National Lottery’s history, investing £450m to strengthen future growth. As a result, we are now able to drive excitement through innovation and new games.

As we look to the future, it’s important to reflect on the achievements delivered since the launch more than 30 years ago. The impact is seen not only in the millions of winners awarded over £103bn in prizes, including more than 8,000 millionaires, but also in the £53bn raised for National Lottery Good Causes.

This includes over 680,000 projects — from sports grounds to historic buildings, community groups to arts institutions and environmental causes. Most people in the UK will have benefited from a National Lottery-funded project, which is something we can all be proud of.

In Northern Ireland alone, more than £1.6bn has been awarded to Good Causes as of 31st March 2026, supporting over 36,000 projects that benefit local communities.

With strong foundations now in place to help return the magic and drive more players into stores, we are committed to building on this success and generating even more for Good Causes.

Kick-starting our plans are changes to Lotto and Lotto HotPicks. Subject to final regulatory approval, from 7th June, players will get two chances to win on each line played – all for the same price and the same number of balls to choose from – with a new two-round format in every draw. The game is expected to generate millions of pounds in weekly sales, and along with the introduction of new Guaranteed Millionaire events, it will more than double the number of millionaires made over the course of a year.

We have also launched a UK-specific version of Powerball this summer, bringing the world’s biggest rolling jackpot game outside the USA for the first time. At £4 a line, customers can play alongside the game’s US counterparts for a chance to win the mega, shared jackpot, which will be paid out over 30 years to UK jackpot winners. The game is expected to deliver around £1bn more to UK Good Causes over its first five years.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you to all National Lottery retailers for your continued support in helping raise over £33m a week for Good Causes. By working together, we can make this year a success for everyone.

We look forward to celebrating with you at the Awards.

BOOK YOUR TABLE AT THE 2026 NEIGHBOURHOOD RETAILER AWARDS HERE!

The post Thank you for ongoing support and hard work: Allwyn first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

This year’s NR Awards take place on Friday 16^th October with the gala awards dinner taking place at the iconic Europa Hotel – seeing the event return to the venue where it all began three decades ago.

Renowned for welcoming famous faces and hosting a plethora of prestigious events, we are delighted that the NR Awards will once again be held at this stunning venue.

A core part of the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards is the independent judging process and we are delighted to once again be associated with Spotcheck NI, a relationship that has been going for as long as the awards themselves. With mystery shoppers and independent judges, the process is committed to finding the best retailers across the region, guaranteeing integrity and quality.

With a host of unique categories, the NR Awards draw entries from more than 500 retailers here, all vying to be the best at what they do. Since the awards were launched, they have become an absolute must-attend on the annual calendar, the perfect place to meet and greet as well as network and celebrate with your colleagues in the industry.

We are thrilled to have Allwyn back on board as our platinum sponsor for the 2026 NR Awards, we look forward to working with them in the months ahead as we count down to this year’s event.

The NR Awards are Northern Ireland’s most prestigious awards for the grocery industry with a captive audience of over 500 top retailers at the annual gala awards dinner – it is a major independent event supporting a crucial sector.

A benchmark of success and highly regarded in the industry, attending the NR Awards enables you to increase awareness of your brand, putting you front and centre of the biggest and best retailers from across the region.

As we return to an iconic venue there has already been a high demand for tables – so don’t miss out on being part of this fantastic night!

Book your table today: telephone Dawn Cartmill 02890 457 457 or email dawn.cartmill@pentonmedia.co.uk

The post NR Awards – supporting your industry first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The first UK Powerball ticket was sold at Sewell On The Go in Pocklington, York at just after 5am.

Available in retailers nationwide, a £4 Powerball line gives UK players the chance to win a staggering estimated £300 million in Thursday’s (23^rd July) draw – the biggest jackpot ever offered to UK players so far!

The game is behind some of the world’s most extraordinary lottery wins, including the record-breaking jackpot worth more than $2.04 billion won in 2022. With uncapped jackpots starting at £10 million and capable of growing into the hundreds of millions, and even beyond £1 billion, Powerball offers prize potential unlike anything previously available through The National Lottery.

Retailers can expect increased engagement and sales driven by Powerball’s fast-growing jackpots, supported by the multimillion-pound advertising campaign to boost footfall and attract new players. With 20p commission per £4 line sold, alongside additional earning and footfall opportunities from in-store prize payouts, the game offers clear commercial benefits.

Players have until 11.55pm on Wednesday 22^nd July to secure their chance to be part of Powerball history, ahead of the first draw at around 4am (UK time) on Thursday 23^rd July. Following the launch, draws will take place three times a week from the Powerball studio in Florida.

New research among 2,000 UK adults found that 85% believe a Powerball-sized jackpot would give them the freedom to do things that would otherwise be impossible.

The findings reveal that, when people start imagining Powerball-sized wealth, they think beyond luxury purchases and begin planning life-changing projects, unforgettable experiences and ways to make a lasting impact.

For the first UK draw, tickets are available to buy in-store until 11.55pm on Wednesday 22^nd July.

Thereafter, tickets are available online and in-store until 11.55pm the night before each draw. Draws take place around 4am UK time on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from the Powerball studio in Florida.

More information on Powerball can be found at www.national-lottery.co.uk/powerball

The post Powerball lands in the UK with record £300 million jackpot first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.