SINGAPORE - Consumers who spend their Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers at some supermarkets here will be able to stretch their dollar further.
As at Jan 3, at least four of the eight participating supermarket chains are offering return vouchers or other deals for those who use a minimum amount of CDC vouchers for each transaction.
The FairPrice Group (FPG) will give out $8 in return vouchers for every $80 worth of CDC supermarket vouchers used in a single transaction at its outlets until Jan 17.
At U Stars stores, customers who spend $60 of their vouchers between Jan 3 and 17 will get a $7 return voucher, while those who spend $120 in vouchers will receive a $15 return voucher.
DFI Retail Group said customers who spend $100 worth of vouchers at Cold Storage, CS Fresh and Jason’s Deli from Jan 3 to 7 will get $5 cash vouchers.
Those who spend $100 worth of vouchers at Giant from Jan 3 to 7 are eligible to redeem a 2.5kg bag of rice.
At the launch of the 2024 CDC vouchers on Jan 3, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said several participating supermarket chains would be offering additional rebates or discounts, which would help their customers further defray daily expenses.
FairPrice first rolled out its return voucher initiative in January 2023, in tandem with that year’s CDC vouchers.
Then, customers received a $6 return voucher for every $55 spent using vouchers.
It proved very popular, with FairPrice saying that its supermarkets across the island drew “exceptionally high traffic” at the weekend following the launch of the return voucher initiative.
FPG chief executive Vipul Chawla said on Jan 3 that the increased cost of living over the last two years due to stubborn inflation and supply chain volatility had led to households cutting back on their spending, including on daily necessities.
“As a social enterprise, it is our mission to support the communities that we serve in their time of need,” he said. “We are laser-focused on accomplishing this through our supplementation of the Government’s support packages.”
In 2023, about $200 million was returned to consumers in the form of discounts, rebates and donations to the community, as well as via the return voucher initiative, said FPG.
In November, FairPrice also announced that it will absorb the 1 percentage point goods and services tax (GST) increase for 500 essential items for the first half of 2024.
FPG, which comprises FairPrice, Kopitiam, NTUC Foodfare and NTUC Link, also said it would extend its discount schemes for Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation members and Community Health Assist Scheme Blue card holders to Dec 31, 2024.
Other supermarket chains that have announced they will absorb the 1 percentage point GST increase on essential goods for a few months include Giant, Sheng Siong and U Stars.
Consumers looking to take advantage of CDC voucher-related offers should take note of their respective terms and conditions.
For instance, FairPrice’s $8 return vouchers are while stocks last, and can be used the day after they are issued, till Feb 29.
Cold Storage’s cash vouchers and Giant’s free rice offer are limited to the first 50 customers per store per day, also while stocks last.
Cold Storage’s cash vouchers can be redeemed till Jan 8, while U Stars’ return vouchers can be used until Jan 31.
The 2024 CDC Vouchers Scheme provides each Singaporean household with $500 in vouchers – half can be spent at supermarkets, and half at participating hawkers and heartland merchants.
The initiative, part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to support Singaporeans in managing the rising cost of living, will benefit 1.27 million Singaporean households and cost $635 million.
The eight supermarket chains that accept the CDC vouchers – Ang Mo Supermarket, Cold Storage, FairPrice, Giant, Hao Mart, Prime, Sheng Siong and U Stars – together have 415 outlets across Singapore.
Merchants who accept CDC vouchers can be found here.
