Supermarkets and distributors have partnered with the Ministry of Home Affairs to discount a range of “everyday grocery essentials and trusted household brands”.

The Affordable Bermuda Basket will run from today through July 31 at Lindo’s and MarketPlace stores across the island.

The savings scheme comes from the Affordable Bermuda Agenda, introduced on October 9 and available to view at costofliving.gov.bm.

A spokeswoman said wholesalers had agreed to apply a 10 per cent reduction on designated brand-name products.

Retailers will match this with an additional 10 per cent discount.

Alexa Lightbourne, the Minister of Home Affairs, said the ministry had been given “a clear mandate to address the cost of living” in February.

A cost-of-living summit was also announced in March.

Ms Lightbourne said the savings programme had been guided by feedback from the public.

She added: “Food affordability emerged as one of the most pressing concerns for families, and today’s launch of the Affordable Bermuda Basket is a direct response.

“This nine-month initiative is designed to provide short-term relief while affordability legislation and policy is reformed and implemented.”

Ms Lightbourne said the savings programme had emerged from “meaningful collaboration with community voices and retail partners”.

She thanked partners including BGA, Butterfield & Vallis, Dunkley’s, Viking Food Limited, The Lindo’s Group of Companies and The Marketplace.

A spokesman for Lindo’s said the company was “committed to making groceries as affordable as possible for our customers, with nearly a thousand items on sale each month and two discount days each week”.

He added: “We support the Government’s efforts to ease the cost of living and will continue doing our part to provide value to the community.”