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Jamaicans who are low on cash and in need of food have been given an option to purchase groceries on hire purchase. And believe it or not, it is a furniture company -- Courts -- that is serving up these eye-popping offers.

Since May, first-time customers of the store have been able to credit food baskets as part of a combo deal, while existing customers have the option of adding the baskets to their existing bills.

"It is a good idea," Tanesha, who was seen at Courts Kings Street, Kingston, location told THE STAR as she checked out the offerings this week.

There are three basket sizes on offer and prices range from $2,999 to $7,999 plus tax. Tanesha reasoned that persons who "probably haven't get paid and just want to grab something and go home" may find the option of taking food on hire purchase useful. "Let's say I don't get paid until next week, I can just get those and pay later," she said.

Level of convenience

Mikhail Raymore, acting regional manager at Courts Jamaica, said that persons have been crediting the basket of goods.

"The offering brings a level of convenience also especially in the environment that persons often want to get all their business done in one location if possible," he told THE STAR. "Furthermore, we always try to get the feedback from our customers to make improvements where necessary."

Persons taking the biggest basket on hire purchase can pay for it over 12 weeks, with weekly payments of $730. This basket includes items such as a litre of vegetable oil, rice, flour, sardines, Lasco food drink mix, and tin mackerel.

Raymore said that a person's credit history with the company impacts the extent to which they are able to 'trust' food from Courts.

"We base it upon their pattern of spend with us, so that way we are able to make good determinations in terms of which offering we extend to which individual," he said