Discount chain Aldi has secured a partnership with Camelot to bring the National Lottery to its stores for the first time.
Aldi said it will be rolling out the National Lottery’s full raft of draw-based games at its checkouts from next month.
The announcement has, however, met with concern from independent retailers.
“This move will dilute sales across the whole retail estate. The more products available in the multiple outlets, the less likely National Lottery players will visit their local independent retailer to pick up their tickets or scratchcards,” commented Stuart Reddish, national president of the Federation of Independent Retailers (NFRN).
Reddish added that NFRN will work closely with the National Lottery operator to understand “the rationale for this move.”
Aldi said the launch follows a successful trial in the north of England, and all of its stores are set to start selling the National Lottery at checkouts by the end of June.
Independent retailers can ‘continue to rely on us’, Camelot says
