AAFES INTERVIEW:
Expanding Reach, Relevance, Value and Sales — with Integrity

Army & Air Force Exchange Service Director and CEO Thomas “Tom” Shull

With a new strategic plan in hand, Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thomas “Tom” Shull has quickly re-focused the Exchange on building an ever more effective benefit for patrons.

With more than a dozen objectives in his strategic plan — including repositioning and reenergizing the main store business; expanding patrons' access to a greater variety of national brands; building on specialty and convenience store strengths, while at the same time fulfilling on the potent promise of AAFES's e-commerce efforts, not to mention reducing targeted expenses — it's sure to be a busy time ahead for Shull and the Exchange.

And while it may seem like a lot to accomplish, in the hands of a director who is no longer limited by a standard two-year military tour, anything seems possible.

If the details in Shull's playbook — developed through years of civilian and military experience, and with a team of dedicated AAFES operators behind him — are followed through, the in-store and Internet energies are on target to converge in a stronger, more viable exchange benefit for all eligible patrons, and the military and installation community, at large. ...

'First and foremost, treat each other with respect and integrity.'
— AAFES Director, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Thomas “Tom” Shull

ALA INTERVIEW:
Shining a Light on Military Families' Economic Lifeline

ALA Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing Candace Wheeler

As a military spouse herself, and with extensive expertise in family advocacy with the National Military Family Association (NMFA), American Logistics Association (ALA) Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing Candace Wheeler is well positioned to advocate for the military resale benefit as the point person for the Coalition to Save Our Military Shopping Benefits.

In her dual role as spouse and executive, Wheeler said she has seen firsthand how important commissaries and exchanges are to the military community, and how they serve as lifelines for so many patrons, not just those families living overseas and in remote locations.

In this exclusive interview with E and C News, Wheeler discusses her background in family advocacy; how she hopes to inform decision-makers about the critical role resale plays in the defense community, and educate and encourage greater numbers of patrons to maximize their use of this most worthwhile benefit. ...

'The services have long recognized the importance of this benefit and often cite the military resale benefit as a critical recruitment and retention tool.'
— ALA Vice President of Strategic Communications and Marketing Candace Wheeler

DeCA INTERVIEW:
Defining the Keys to Perishables and Store Success

DeCA Perishables Division Chief Joyce Chandler

E and C News recently spoke to Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Perishables Division Chief Joyce Chandler about the pace of change currently taking place in the Perishables area. While center store accounts for more than half of DeCA's $6 billion in sales, quality and value in the perimeter continue to be key traffic drivers, helping both divisions deliver successful patron shopping trips. ...

'What once was a clear dividing line between the Perishables and Semi-Perishables divisions is now evaporating, with initiatives now being explored to integrate categories of both chill and freeze with dry — based on how a consumer shops.'
— DeCA Perishables Division Chief Joyce Chandler

NEXCOM LOGISTICS:
Getting the Product Customers Want 'Across the Enterprise'

Since taking over as vice president (VP) of the General Merchandise Group 3 (MG3) of the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) two years ago, Art Burke and his Planning and Replenishment team have worked diligently to improve the exchange's supply chain and logistics, by reducing out-of-stock situations and optimizing replenishment methods to ensure that NEXCOM patrons — whether visiting exchanges Stateside, overseas or Ships Stores — are getting the product they want, when they need it.

In this exclusive interview with E and C News, Burke discusses the role of the Replenishment and Supply Chain Group. ...

'There is a weekly replenishment snapshot report that the planners use to find the not-in-stock (NIS) causes and fix any problems at the root. We have discovered the largest cause of NIS at our stores is vendor fill rate.'
— NEXCOM Vice President (VP), Replenishment and Supply Chain, Art Burke

DeCA VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS — Vogelweh AB, Germany, Commissary Department Profile:

Serving a 'Health-Conscious Group of People'

Posting strong double-digit dollar volume increases during fiscal 2012, the Vogelweh AB, Germany, Commissary's vitamins and supplements department serves what Store Manager Gissell E. Horde described as a “very active, mission-oriented and health-conscious group of people,” who are a part of the region's Kaiserslautern military community.

Horde described this community — largely composed of U.S. Army and Air Force personnel and their families — as “unique because it represents the largest population of Americans outside the United States, and they want and trust the American brands we offer to enhance their families' nutrition.”

The store manager reported robust sales in the 832-square-foot department during the past fiscal year, with both vitamins and supplements scaling the $100,000 sales threshold. ...

Read more DeCA VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS ...

NEWSMAKERS:

'Smart' Car for Lucky Winner of Welch's Contest

• JB PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii — On Nov. 29, Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Hickam Exchange shopper Nurjan Sakagawa was presented with a 2013 Smart Car, which she won in Promotions- In-Motion's SmartCar Sweepstakes sponsored by Welch's.

Sakagawa, a homemaker, beat out thousands of other contestants who entered the Welch's-sponsored car giveaway throughout the U.S. More than 2,000 entrants at Hickam Exchange, and 4,000 Hawaii-wide, entered the contest. The vehicle, festooned in a colorful and distinctive Welch's Fruit Snacks car wrap, is valued at approximately $13,500. ...

Subway Launches Program Honoring Wounded Warriors

• MILFORD, Conn. —  On Nov. 10, the Subway restaurant chain launched a national program honoring veterans through a partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).

The partnership supports the WWP's vision to foster the success of wounded warriors, helping to recognize this segment in Subway locations nationwide. ...

AAFES, Mars and MillerCoors Team Up in Ford Truck Giveaway

• DALLAS — Mars Combos and Miller Beer teamed up to give away two Ford F-150 trucks at Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) stores in the “Truckin' Into Summer” contest in fiscal 2012.

Entrants from Fort Hood, Texas, and JB Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, were chosen as the CONUS and OCONUS winners, respectively, from more than 4,000 online submissions. Each winner received a $24,500 check toward their new truck. ...