‘Take GST off food before Christmas’

Tuesday 26th August 2008, 2:54PM BST.

SUPERMARKET bosses have pledged to take the full three per cent off every exempted item when GST is taken off food.

And Sandpiper boss Tony O’Neill, who runs the Checkers stores and Safeway, says the States should push the exemption through to give Islanders an early Christmas present.

Last week, the Council of Ministers announced their long-expected U-turn on GST exemptions for food in the wake of rising food and fuel costs. They said it could take until the spring for the exemptions – which will follow the UK VAT system – to be formally set up.

Co-op chief executive Jim Hopley and Mr O’Neill have welcomed the decision, and both say that their stores will take the full three per cent off every exempted item.

Pictured: Increasing world food prices combined with GST have resulted in high shopping bills for Jersey consumers

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