Patrons Cheer New Fort Campbell Commissary, 'Why Go Anywhere Else?'
• FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — A new $24 million, 122,000-square-foot Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) commissary — one of the largest in the agency's worldwide portfolio — opened here June 13. The new K-5 facility, based at the home of the Army's 101st Airborne Division, has about 20,000 additional square feet of sales floor compared with the former commissary, and carries a stock assortment of 18,000 items.
In addition, the new commissary features energy efficient lighting, heat and air systems. More self-checkouts were added to the new store — bringing the total to eight of the store's 20 checkouts — and expanded departments include deli, bakery, meat and produce, sushi-to-go, rotisserie chicken and custom-made sandwiches. ...
Read more FORT CAMPBELL COMMISSARY ...NEWSMAKERS:
New Hershey Initiative Offers Benefits, Jobs to Veterans
• HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Company has stepped up efforts to offer both benefits and jobs to veterans with the launch of its new Veterans Business Resource Group (BRG). The company said the group will establish mentorships between newly hired veterans and veterans currently employed at Hershey. It will also offer support during the transition to the civilian workforce, promote communication and collaboration among its employed veterans, reach out to veterans' groups to support the hiring mission, and educate its employees on the skills and experience veterans bring to the workforce. Job fairs also are planned.
Since 2010, The Hershey Company has increased the number of veterans hired by 50 percent, with the total now more than 500. ...
ConAgra, Ocean Spray and Webco Sponsor
Mini Cooper Raffle at
Fort Carson Commissary
• FORT CARSON, Colo. — Christina “Christy” Mitchell (wife of Army CW4 Aaron Mitchell, an Apache helicopter pilot) is the lucky winner of a 2012 Mini Cooper, courtesy of ConAgra Foods, Ocean Spray and Webco General Partnership, the companies' military broker. Webco organized the car raffle as part of Fort Carson's Grand Opening on May 26. ...
'Companies like yours remind
servicemembers like
us that we are not alone in
this fight and we truly do
appreciate your support.
Thanks again from the
Mitchell family!'
— CW4 Aaron Mitchell, USA, 25th Cavalry,
Afghanistan
MCX TACTICAL — Top Priority: Mission Support
Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) stores carry an impressive lineup of tactical items and military clothing products to meet just about any needs their patrons may have while they are in combat, or while pursuing outdoor pastimes that involve similar equipment and clothing.
With the military landscape in a seemingly constant state of rotation, and with changes in requirements liable to occur at a moment's notice, MCX headquarters buyers handling these areas endeavor to stay on top of the equipment, accessory and clothing marketplace and unit needs to ensure servicemember readiness and tactical store resupply at all times.
Semper Fit and Exchange Services Division buyers Robin Pruett, who is responsible for tactical items, and Wanda Fox, who handles military clothing, oversee this assortment. ...
Read more MCX TACTICAL ...MCX NBFF — Quality and Selection At the Tip of the Spear
The Marine Corps' Semper Fit and Exchange Services Division, the entity that oversees the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX), is “gung-ho” about the Marine Corps Community Services' (MCCS) portfolio of fast food and restaurant establishments.
The performance of that portfolio during the past year has created this optimism, said branch head Ric Pomeroy. The food and beverage program — excluding gaming and bingo revenues — generated gross sales of $171.48 million in fiscal 2011, with another $19.40 million in what he referred to as “other income streams,” totaling nearly $191 million during the fiscal year in combined revenues.
The Food, Hospitality & Entertainment Branch oversees 107 direct-run restaurants, snack bars and mobile restaurants, and 110 indirectly run operations — also known as third-party franchises. The total includes 46 clubs aboard 18 installations. The branch is also now responsible for the operation of Marine Corps bowling alleys, golf courses, theaters and other similar facilities. ...
Read more MCX NBFF ...DeCA HBC — Outpacing The Grocery Marketplace
Buyer Andy Beres is responsible for an important and diverse segment of the Defense Commissary Agency's (DeCA) health and beauty care (HBC) categories, including those ranging from oral care, skin care and shaving, to analgesics, cough/cold, sinus/allergy, and baby and bath products. Together, his categories were responsible for $216.7 million in sales during fiscal 2011.
Although sales in Beres's categories were down more than 3-percent from a year earlier, the buyer noted that they have recently outperformed similar segments of the civilian HBC grocery marketplace.
“Sales are trending better for the 52-week period ending May 26,” Beres said. Although this $214.7 million total represented a 1.8-percent decrease, the buyer said, “This is an improvement over the previous time frame, and reflects DeCA outpacing other grocery markets in dollars and units in all four periods,” he noted. ...
Read more DeCA HBC ...DeCA HOUSEHOLD CLEANING SUPPLIES — With Convenience And Necessity In Mind
Commissary patrons are shopping for household cleaning products with a sharp focus on items of necessity, according to Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) Sales Directorate (SD) Category Buyer Jon Sanders. At the same time, many customers have favored products that emphasize convenience but which also place as light a burden as possible on the pocketbook.
“In the household cleaning categories, both inside and outside the gate are experiencing the same challenges,” the buyer said. “Cautious consumption and reduced pantry size” are among the main trends affecting these categories, Sanders emphasized. ...
'Consumers are shopping for household cleaning products
with a clearer focus on what they absolutely need.'
— DeCA Household Cleaning Supplies Category Buyer Jon Sanders
