their wounds this week -- while the opportunists, who capitalised on panic-buying, count their profits.

Supermarkets like Lindo's Market in Devonshire which had back-up power could operate like any other working day.

However, public demand for non-perishable goods made Saturday more than just another day.

It was more like the last trading day before a public holiday, said Mr. Bill Moniz, manager and part owner of Lindo's.

Customer numbers were up by an extra 15 to 20 percent, he said. In the morning, demand was high for canned goods, such as corn beef, beef stew and luncheon meat.

"We could not keep enough water stacked on the shelves,'' said Mr. Moniz. By the afternoon, when power returned, customers returned to their normal shopping habits.

Lindo's Market has diesel-operated generators, which power the cash registers, lights, and butchers' equipment. When Lindo's extended its store space, it also introduce an upgraded generator.

A beneficiary of Bermudians' desire not to go hungry on Saturday -- power or not -- was Dinty's Lunch Wagon, seen doing roaring trade on Front Street.

Great Things store on East Broadway quickly posted signs for batteries and flashlights.

However, major suppliers like Dunkley & Pioneer Dairy had a difficult day.

Co-owner Mr. Stephen Dunkley said the business is now considering installing a generator.

The dairy starts production at 2 a.m., so it managed to start its daily routine before the black-out. When deliveries began, certain groceries and supermarkets refused to accept chilled products such as milk, yogurt, and juices, said Mr. Dunkley.

The dairy's chill room can hold its temperature for up to seven hours, so products in storage do not deteriorate.

However, Dunkley's Dairy had to dispose of products in the production process during the blackout.

Mr. Dunkley said he cannot recoup any of the day's losses, which include paying staff for extra hours worked, lost sales, and time spent checking the quality of milk pumped into tanks at local farms.

Security firm Bermuda Central Station had 24 security staff on standby in case Hamilton's office blocks, under its protection, needed extra security.

Mr. Robbie Aldred, vice president at Bermuda Central Station, said extra staff had to be sent to the airport to help man the security operation as the X-ray machine was affected by the power failure.

At Trimingham Brothers, management had to tell approximately 200 staff to stay at home as it was decided by 11 a.m. that the store would not open, said president Mr. Eldon Trimingham.

"Saturday is our busiest day, and a substantial volume of the company's trading should have taken place,'' he said.

Chamber of Commerce members met BELCO officials yesterday to work out an emergency plan in case of another blackout.

"A number of suggestions were made, including the Chamber identifying key business personnel to be contacted, as well as the Chamber assisting as a liaison between BELCO and the business community,'' said Chamber spokeswoman Ms Carolyn Mello.

"BELCO informed the Chamber that in the early hours of Saturday morning, and throughout the day, they contacted many businesses to inform them about the outage, to respond to questions, and advise them on the progress being made.'' Since then, BELCO has been making follow-up calls to many businesses to evaluate the company's handling of the outage, she said.