Topaz, which claims to be the Irish Republic’s largest fuels and convenience retailer, has announced the first winner of an ‘experience of a lifetime’ in its new Play or Park loyalty game.

Richard Smith and his wife Linda, from Grangerath, Drogheda, in County Meath, have won a holiday in The Maldives. Smith is a customer at Topaz Coolfore in Ashbourne.

He was presented with his prize by Topaz’s new brand ambassador, former Irish rugby international Alan Quinlan, and the company’s marketing and corporate services director Paul Candon.

Candon said: “The objective of Play or Park was to come up with a unique and fun way of rewarding customers for their loyalty.

“Every month we’ll be giving away an experience of a lifetime; be it a shopping trip to New York with three friends (with €8,000 spending money), a new car (with free fuel for a year), a tour of various Michelin starred restaurants around Europe, or a trip to Thailand.

“The key difference with other loyalty schemes is that everyone who plays each month is eligible for a complementary Topaz Treat, such as coffee and muffin or a car wash, so all our regular customers are winners.”

Topaz launched Play or Park in early February and 75,000 people have already registered to play it.

To enter the game customers collect points which they can either use to ‘play’ for an experience of a lifetime prize, or they can ‘park’ them and carry them forward to participate in a following month’s game. 

Candon pointed out there is also an important charity element to the game. He said: “Every quarter players can opt to play for a donation to a local charity of their choice and a cash prize for themselves.

“Topaz will match all those donations with a donation to our own charity partner Aware, which is doing tremendous work helping those suffering from depression.”