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Winner of Ritchies 20k give away. Photo: L-R Matthew Saunders (assistant store manager), Leah Buckland and husband Edward (major winner), Peter Lee (QLD State manager) and Kieron Hyland (store manager). Image: contributed

Ritchies $20,000 grocery giveaway winner

Lynne Mowbray|

Ritchies IGA in Maclean has just given one lucky shopper a year’s worth of groceries to the value of $20,000, in their supermarket’s opening promotion.

The promotion which ran from their opening day on October 9 until November 5 also saw 281 winners who each received a $50 gift card (10 winners per day for 28 days) and one winner of a $6000 gift card. 

Winner of the major prize of $20,000 worth of groceries was Pacific Valley Christian School teacher, Leah Buckland.

“I got a call on Wednesday afternoon from Ritchies saying that I’d won the major prize,” Leah said.

“I actually had to ask them for the amount a couple of times, because I didn’t believe it – I was totally in shock.

“I sent a text to my mum to tell her, but I didn’t really believe it until my husband Edward and I actually walked into the store and was greeted by the store manager, assistant manager and the Queensland State manager.

“My husband has been off work with a broken foot for the last six weeks, so winning this prize, couldn’t have happened at a better time.

“To receive this, is actually a wonderful blessing,” she said.

Ritchies Maclean store assistant manager Matthew Saunders said that (with Leah’s husband off work due to an injury), it was great to see the major prize go to someone who needs it. 

“Overall, we are extremely happy with the promotion,” Mr Saunders said.

“We are still counting the total number of entries in the competition, but we expect it to be upwards of 3000 entries.

“All except for six of the winners are local winners, so it has been great to give to the local community,” he said.