IN MEMORIAM:

Ollie Bates — Military Resale Sales & Marketing Veteran

Capt. Ollie Burton Bates III, USNR (Ret.), a beloved figure in the military resale industry and in the communities in which he lived during his 72 years, passed away in November.

The St. Albans, W. Va., native was held in the highest esteem by so many who were fortunate enough to have made his acquaintance in industry and in life. He served on active duty in the Navy from 1964 to 1967, and in the Selected Reserve until his retirement from the military in 1994, and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal by the Secretary of Defense for “superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility.” Following active duty, he continued to serve the servicemembers he loved for 40 years with leading military resale brokers and suppliers. ...

DEFENSE COMMISSARY AGENCY TOP 10 SNAPSHOT

• Top 10 DeCA Stores by Sales Volume, Fiscal 2012 Sales
• Top 10 DeCA Stores by Area, Fiscal 2012 Sales

OBITUARY: David O'Brien Martin, Former Legislator, HASC Member

David O'Brien Martin, 68, a former Republican member of the House of Representatives who directly preceded current Secretary of the Army John McHugh as representative from the 24th District in upper New York State, passed away on Nov. 20. ...

DeCA: PAULA LEWIS, CHIEF, SEMI-PERISHABLES DIVISION —

'Taking Great Pride' In New Role

Paula Lewis, the Defense Commissary Agency's (DeCA) Semi-Perishables Division chief since July, recently added her own 30 years of commissary experience to the Sales Directorates' (SD) considerable wealth of expertise.

With store support, improving savings and growing sales top of mind, the Air Force Commissary Service (AFCOMS) and DeCA veteran relishes the new challenges she faces.

“In my previous experience as a store director at numerous stores, I can remember receiving inquiries from patrons as to why we don't carry certain products or why we don't have more variety,” she said. “Now, in the Sales Directorate (SD), I'm able to better understand the product selection process and use my store-level experience to help select the best products for our patrons.” ...

AAFES RETAIL FOOD —

Exchange Express Program Gathers Momentum

There is no indication that any moss will have a chance to grow under the increasingly significant rock that is the Army & Air Force Exchange Service's (AAFES) Retail Food division. Just when one might think the Exchange's food group has exhausted all new approaches with its many recent initiatives, it rolls down a new path gathering momentum and building sales.

With their natural emphasis on convenience and consumables, the Exchange's Express Stores have become increasingly a focal point for the latest innovations in food and beverages. Year-round seasonal candy, multi-point merchandising, open-air refrigerated displays, and new hot-to-go foods are firmly in the spotlight in AAFES convenience stores.

“Our most recent numbers for retail food showed a 2 percent upward trend over last year,” said AAFES Retail Food Divisional Merchandise Manager (DMM) David Arens. ...

Read more AAFES EXCHANGE EXPRESS ...

NEXCOM CANDY —

Premium Resurgence and Trail Mix Meet with King-Size Growth

As it prepared to enter fiscal 2012's fourth quarter, the Navy Exchange Service Command's (NEXCOM) candy assortment was showing positive sales results, which it aimed to extend through the end-ofthe- year holidays.

Following strong 4.9-percent growth in candy and confections sales in fiscal 2011, fiscal 2012 has picked up from where the previous fiscal year left off. According to NEXCOM Candy Buyer Lorel Taylor, sales through September were up 6.9 percent.

“Currently, we are seeing a resurgence of growth in the premium category,” Taylor said. “We attribute that to the performance of Godiva and See's Candies. These programs are also significant seasonal performers.” ...