THE MILITARY CHANNEL OF TRADE

A commissary primarily sells foodstuffs, like a grocery store. Commissaries also sell tobacco, health and beauty aids (HBA) and some household items, such as paper towels and batteries. A commissary on a military installation usually consists of a single main sales store. Commissaries are funded with appropriated (tax-payer) dollars.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is the Congressionally funded organization that overseas the operation of all military commissaries worldwide. Commissaries are recognized as the number one non-pay military benefit. Merchandise is sold at cost plus 5% surcharge applied at the register, providing the patrons a savings of up to 30%. ALA member products are represented in all of the 271 commissaries on military bases worldwide and commissary sales generate more than $5 billion on an annual basis.
Average Sales Per Week
Weekly $ sales per sq. ft. of selling space
Average transaction
Average sq. ft. per store
Average # of SKU's
Inventory turns		 $506,968
$16.15
$60.76
31,392
16,829
22.10		 $297,469
$7.12
$30.86
34,147
45,000
15.3		  
1. Wal-Mart Supercenters  $155,477,000,000. Number of Stores – 1,929  
2. Albertsons/SuperValu  $61,300,000,000. Number of Stores 4,000+
3. The Kroger Co.  $57,240,000,000. Number of Stores - 3,302
4. Safeway, Inc. 38,500,000,000. Number of Stores - 1,801
5. Ahold USA, Inc. $28,015,000,000. Number of Stores - 816
6. Publix Super Markets, Inc. $21,000,000,000. Number of Stores - 874
7. Delhaize America   $16,600,000,000
8. H.E. Butt Grocery Co.   $11,100,000,000. Number of Stores – 301
9. Meijer, Inc.    $8,330,000,000. Number of Stores – 171
10. DeCA $7,000,000.00**. Number of Stores – 264. NOTE: Estimate based on comparable sales/cost numbers
11. Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea   $7,133,000,000. Number of Stores - 407
12. Whole Foods Market, Inc.  $4,701,289,000. Number of Stores - 180

An exchange is a department store on military bases. It provides quality merchandise and services at uniformly low prices to the military community regardless of where they are stationed. The exchanges donate a percentage of their earnings back to their customers for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and Quality of Life programs and modern places to shop.

Military exchanges operate as federal entities within the Department of Defense. They are self-funded and pay operating costs from revenues. Exchanges return earnings to customers through payments to MWR activities and investments in new or renovated exchange facilities. Exchange sales total more than $10 billion in nearly 370 stores worldwide.
Army & Air Force (AAFES)
Coast Guard (CGES)
Marine Corps (MCX)
Navy (NEXCOM)
161 Stores
82 Stores
16 Stores
110 Stores
The Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) operates 172 stores under the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Customers include patients, staff, medical workers, and volunteers. Product reorders are generated through the Purchase Order Management System (POMS).
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