EVERY food item in this open-air market in Jurong West is now on discount.

The catch is that the offer lasts for only three days - it ends tomorrow.

This low-cost mart - in a tented area located at the Nanyang Neighbourhood Town Centre in Jurong West Street 91 - is an effort by the Nanyang Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) to ease the pressure of rising food costs on its residents.

The CCC persuaded two retailers to set up stall to sell essential items such as rice, cooking oil, sugar and Milo at 'substantial discounts' for three days, said Hong Kah GRC MP Alvin Yeo.

For example, Prime supermarket is offering items such as onions and potatoes at up to 40 per cent off their normal prices, said its chief executive Chong Wee Cheong.

When asked why the supermarket was doing this, Mr Chong said it was the supermarket's way of paying back residents there for their support over the past 20 years.

He added: 'We don't expect to make any profit at all.'

The other retailer taking part is DoDo Trade Fair and Events.

Jurong West residents such as lorry driver Teo Chiam Heo, 66, took the chance to stock up on essentials yesterday.

Mr Teo, who earns about $1,500 a month, bought two 5kg bags of Golden Wheel rice at $8.80 each. The usual price is $9.25 a bag.

Housewife Zheng Mei Feng, 53, whose husband brings home less than $2,000 a month as a driver, said potatoes on sale were about 30 per cent cheaper than elsewhere. 'It will be wonderful if these shops can sell us goods at such prices every day.'

Mr Yeo said of the low-cost mart initiative: 'If the residents' response is positive, we will try to hold this again at regular intervals.'