Welcomed move but still early days. This was the review some customers and management from supermarket chains reported today, as the Value Added Tax (VAT) on certain items on supermarket shelves were lifted at the start of the day as promised by Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
When a team from Barbados TODAY visited the Popular Discount outlet in Spooners Hill, St Michael during the midday period, moderate traffic was seen as some consumers did their weekly shopping during their lunch break. One supervisor from that location said business was good during the morning period and that some customers had made their way into the location to take advantage of the reduced prices on selected goods.
Meanwhile, Director of Carlton and A1 Supermarkets Tomlinson Bynoe who spoke briefly during the afternoon said he wasn’t expecting any mass rush at this point in time.
“Traditionally, shopping is decent through the week, but obviously it is more weekend when you will see the influx of larger trade. Bear in mind the programme is a six-month programme and therefore will be no need for customers to rush into the store unlike with the VAT holiday that was one day and therefore the customers will plan their normal shopping as they would have gone about normally to come in to take advantage of the items which are part of the programme.”
He added that the reduced items are popular goods that make up the general basket for the average customer and therefore the current reduction will be meaningful to the customer.
CORRECTION: This article was corrected to accurately reflect Mr Bynoe’s comments.
