The ten per cent Wednesday discount at supermarkets ended at closing time last night.

The groups that had agreed to implement the discount — The MarketPlace Ltd, Lindo’s Group of Companies and The Supermart Ltd — will revert to the 5 per cent rate that was originally in place.

Supermart Ltd president Tredick Gorham said yesterday evening that they would not know how well business went yesterday until the doors closed for the night.

“I’m assuming people will take advantage of it,” he said.

Mr Gorham, speaking from overseas where he is on a business trip for the grocery store group, said: We were supposed to end the 10 per cent in November,” adding that the request was made to extend it through Christmas.

“It was unsustainable over the medium term,” he said.

“It inevitably had to stop at some point, and it has stopped now.”

Mr Gorham said that as well as the 5 per cent Wednesday discount, shoppers could expect to see promotional offers, which require manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers all being on the same page, as “heating up”.

“Our goal is always to keep everyone employed during difficult times,” said Mr Gorham.

Calls requesting comment from The MarketPlace and Lindo’s had not been returned by press time.

The MarketPlace Ltd is a chain of eight grocery stores, The Supermart Group includes Somers Supermart, and Lindo’s Group of Companies includes Lindo’s Market and Lindo’s Family Foods.