Today's deadline for Superquinn to "desist" from asking suppliers for support payments has been extended, the company claimed last night.

The deadline was set last week by the Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Carmel Foley, who said if Superquinn and an associated company, Retail Logistics, failed to give a commitment to stop the practice, she would take High Court action.

A spokeswoman for Superquinn said the deadline extension had been agreed "mutually" between the company and Ms Foley's office. Ms Foley was unavailable for comment last night.