FairPrice extends discount on housebrand items

QX179R SG

Channel NewsAsia - 58 minutes ago

SINGAPORE: Some National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) social enterprises have adjusted selected existing initiatives to help Singaporeans stretch their dollar and manage the rising cost of living.

In December 2007, NTUC FairPrice said consumers could enjoy a five percent discount on 500 essential housebrands until February this year.

But due to overwhelming response, the offer was extended until the end of this month. Now, Tan Kian Chew, who is the CEO of NTUC FairPrice, said the offer will be extended for a second time.

"We are going to extend a final extension of this five percent discount on our housebrand items up to end of July."

NTUC Healthcare, on the other hand, says it will launch eight more Unity pharmacy outlets all over the island this year — bringing the number up to almost 50.

Its CEO, Bernard Lee, said: "Our latest one is at Liang Court. The next few coming up are at Yew Tee, Tampines and West Coast Plaza. We also want to increase the number of distribution points for Medicare and Denticare by 20 percent, from 20 distribution points to 24."

Medicare was formed to provide affordable medical services for individuals and companies while Denticare is its dental equivalent.

Mr Lee said he will also increase the number of discounted health products sold at its Unity pharmacies from 100 to 120.

These are commonly purchased items such as vitamins and health supplements.

As for NTUC Foodfare, it will extend its ’supervalue breakfast set’ initiative for another year.

The scheme was first launched in 2006 and it aims to help union members as well as senior citizens enjoy a proper meal to start their day.

For less than $2, they can visit any NTUC Foodfare outlet to purchase their meal, said its CEO Perry Ong.

"This set comes with either a cup of coffee, or tea, two slices of toasted bread and kaya and two eggs. For the May Day celebrations, NTUC Foodfare will be offering to all union members and elderly Singaporeans a five percent discount across all our coffeeshops and foodcourts and for every Tuesday, the elderly Singaporeans will be able to get a five percent discount for their purchases as well. So if they are also a union member, they will enjoy a total of ten percent discount."

NTUC has 12 social enterprises and all of them aim to help workers manage their cost of living. These include NTUC Childcare, aimed at helping women join the workforce, and NTUC Club which was formed to help Singaporeans gain access to affordable lifestyle products. —938LIVE.