Butlers secure hamper deal with lottery

BUTLERS CHOCOLATES has won the contract to supply the National Lottery’s annual “Hampers and Roses” scratch card scheme, which is to be re-named “Hampers Sweets Treats” from October.

Cadbury has traditionally held the contract to supply the chocolates to the National Lottery which founded the scheme almost 20 years ago.

The National Lottery runs a variety of different scratch card games throughout the year linked to different occasions.

This is the first time that an indigenous Irish company has won the contract to supply confectionary to the scheme, which typically runs in the run-up to Christmas.

Butlers Chocolates was founded in 1932 in Dublin. It is now owned by the Sorensen family, who acquired the business in 1959.

The chocolatiers launched the Butlers cafe chain in 1998.

It now has 15 outlets in Ireland, as well as cafes in London, New Zealand and Pakistan.

The company is privately held, and does not disclose financial information. It underwent a significant period of expansion in the early 1990’s. The most recently available published figures show that profits at the firm in 2006 rose almost 17 per cent to over €2.1 million. Turnover stood at €23.2 million.

The National Lottery’s “Hampers Sweets Treats” game gives scratch card players the opportunity to win Christmas hampers, chocolates, shopping vouchers and cash.

This year 225,000 boxes of chocolates will be available to win through the scheme.

The National Lottery had sales of €772 million in 2010. Scratch cards accounted for 20 per cent of overall turnover, making the category the second biggest contributor to the National Lottery’s sales after Lotto.

Sales of Scratch Card games in 2010 were €153.2 million compared to €163.8 million sales in the previous year. Players won €99.7 million in prizes.