Sacramento--The California Lottery announced today that 7th Heaven Market has been named California Lottery's Retailer of the Year. A special presentation will be held at 7th Heaven Market, 30012 Crown Valley Parkway in Laguna Niguel at 12:00 p.m.
7th Heaven Market's weekly Scratchers® and On-Line sales averaged $18,000 a week for a combined total sales of over $2.9 million since they began selling Lottery tickets. With a minimum of 34 percent of all Lottery ticket sales benefiting public education, 7th Heaven Market has contributed more than $1 million to California public schools.
Storeowners' Jhon and G-K Dhaliwal, with their sons Jesse and Harry, have been Lottery retailers for five years. The Dhaliwal's are noted for the warm and friendly atmosphere of their store, including knowing their customers by name and offering free cups of coffee to customers. They are also supportive of their local community, including their own recycling program that supports a local school.
The California Lottery's fiscal year that ended June 30, 2000 was the best year of the decade for the Lottery. Sales were $2.59 billion and education contributions were over $945 million. Lottery's Scratchers® sales, at $1.17 billion, were the highest since the first year of the Lottery when there were no other games.
Total retailer compensation was $179.5 million, the most ever paid to Lottery retailers and share of sales devoted to game and operating costs were also the lowest in 10 years at 13.2 percent of sales.
The California Lottery sells its products through a network of more than 18,000 outlets statewide. By law, the Lottery is required to provide at least 52.5 percent of its revenues to players as prizes, 34 percent to public schools and 14 percent for administrative expenses, which includes 6.8 percent for retailer commissions and incentives. Since 1985 the Lottery has raised more than 11 billion for public schools. The California Lottery's contribution equals approximately 2 percent of the state's total education budget.
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