May 2013
During a Retailer of the Quarter presentation at last month’s Arizona Lottery commission meeting, I learned about an extraordinary independent retailer, Del Monte Market, and its extraordinary owners, Keith and Anita Ganatra.
Built in 1908, the Del Monte Market in Laveen, Arizona, is listed as the oldest continually operating general market in Arizona. Keith and Anita Ganatra took ownership in 2007 and have done an outstanding job promoting Lottery products for the past six years at this location and for 14 years at a previous location. This year, their Scratchers sales have grown an astonishing 30.7% along with a 20.7% growth in draw games. I am impressed by the couple’s growth in sales, but just as important is their enthusiasm for the Lottery brand. There is an abundance of creative effort in both the interior (they put up signs for all of the customers who have won at their store) and exterior (shown below) of the store. They regularly ask their district sales representative to provide them with Lottery merchandise and sales support for their car shows, anniversaries, and other events.
Lottery dollars positively impact Arizona retailers who sell lottery tickets and rely on ticket commissions to support their businesses and benefit their communities. Last year the Arizona Lottery paid out nearly $44 million in commissions to retailers (large and small) across the entire state.
Every time our players play the Lottery, they are participating in the growth and future of our state. Keith and Anita’s success highlights how Lottery dollars are benefitting the residents of Arizona.
Del Monte Market's owners, Keith and Anita Ganatra.