Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, hosted an awards ceremony in London on November 20th to honour its 2025 UK Local Retail Champions. The event celebrated retailers who go above and beyond in their communities, highlighting their vital role in supporting National Lottery Good Causes and fostering local connections.
Key Takeaways
- Two national winners received £15,000 each for their exceptional community contributions.
- Sixteen regional winners were awarded £5,000 apiece.
- Two new innovation awards recognised creative approaches to promoting National Lottery-funded projects.
National Champions Shine
Barry’s Local & Post Office in Kent and Halai General Store (Best One) in London were crowned the national winners of Allwyn’s Local Retail Champions scheme. Each store received a £15,000 prize for their outstanding community work.
Halai General Store, a family-owned business run with the help of Vimal Pandya, was recognised for founding the Rotherhithe Community Kitchen and Food Bank. This initiative supports over 300 families weekly and regularly donates to local nurseries, schools, churches, and community groups. The store had previously used a £5,000 regional award to expand the kitchen and food bank.
Barry’s Local & Post Office, managed by Bharat Vara, was honoured for its long-standing support for a local homeless charity, its provision of Christmas presents to Demelza House hospice, and its sale of second-hand books for charity.
Regional Recognition and Innovation
In addition to the national accolades, 16 regional winners from across the UK were celebrated, each receiving £5,000. These retailers were nominated by customers for a variety of reasons, including fundraising events, improving store accessibility, providing home deliveries for the elderly, and hosting community events.
This year also introduced two new Innovation Awards, celebrating retailers who devised creative ways to highlight National Lottery-funded community projects. Amit Patel of Go Local Extra in Salford and Nathalie Fullerton of One Stop in Partick, Glasgow, were the inaugural recipients. Each received £2,500 in cash and an additional £2,500 to develop their innovative ideas.
Nathalie Fullerton plans to create a community mural on her store’s exterior, titled ‘Wall of Dreams,’ which will showcase local National Lottery-funded projects. Amit Patel is organising a street party to celebrate local good causes supported by The National Lottery.
The Heart of the Community
Speaking at the event, Vimal Pandya expressed his pride: “We are incredibly proud and humbled to be named a Local Retail Champion for a second year running, and to take home the national prize this time is truly amazing. This award from Allwyn means so much to our whole team. National Lottery retailers and local shops like ours are the heart of our communities across the country.”
Nathalie Fullerton added, “Winning this Innovation Award means everything to us. Our store has always been about more than convenience – it’s about people, connection and giving back to the community that supports us every day.”
Alison Acquaye-Acford, Allwyn’s Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales, congratulated all the winners, stating, “These winners embody the values that make local shops so vital to local areas.”
Sources
- Allwyn names 2025 UK Local Retail Champions, Better Retailing.
- UK-wide campaign celebrates National Lottery retailers going above and beyond for communities, Convenience Store.
- Allwyn honours 2025 Local Retail Champions, Asian Trader.
