CORONADO, CA. (October 30, 2020) – Following a busy summer implementing new shopper safety features, military commissaries from coast to coast have seen an uptick in shoppers and are preparing for more patrons during the upcoming holiday season.
The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) says it is expecting a surge of authorized customers to do their holiday shopping on-base and take advantage of unmatched savings of nearly 24 percent, compared to competing retailers off-base. There are over 12 million authorized military shoppers across the world.
“As we enter into what is typically the busiest time of the year with the holiday season just weeks away, we are delighted with the many steps that the Defense Commissary Agency has taken to ensure customers are provided with the safest shopping experience available. We also applaud DeCA for the work it has done to help those who work in the commissaries stay safe,” said Jarrett Thompson, Customer Development Manager – Military at Tyson Foods.
Commissaries continue to implement safety procedures with some stores now introducing CLICK2GO, DeCA’s computer ordering/curbside pickup program. With CLICK2GO, customers can do their grocery shopping online, arrange for a pickup time and have their order ready and waiting for a touchless delivery when they arrive at the commissary. Nine bases are already offering this service, and a total of 11 bases are expected to be offering this service by the end of the calendar year.
To learn more about CLICK2GO and see if this service is offered at your base, click here.
For those who are shopping inside the store, commissaries have taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of their customers and employees. These safety measures include:
- No more "early bird" shopping hours, to allow more time for cleaning and restocking.
- Each commissary location, in coordination with its installation leadership, may need to implement purchase limitations on products to ensure that DeCA can meet the increased requirements. The commissary team is working very hard on a daily basis to restock shelves as the supplies are delivered.
- Limitations on the use of reusable bags at the register.
- Installation of protective Plexiglas® shields in all checkout lanes.
- Requests that shoppers consider using bank-issued credit, debit, MILITARY STAR or gift cards instead of cash.
- Possible limitations on cash-back and cash-checking transactions.
- Provision of PPE (gloves and face coverings) to all store employees.
- Requirements that all customers, or anyone else entering a commissary, wear face coverings while in stores.
Organized by MyMilitarySavings.com, leading consumer product brands have banded together to help promote the commissaries’ safety initiative aimed at keeping members of the military and their families safe. Those brands leading the way include Procter & Gamble, Nestlé Purina PetCare and Tyson Foods.
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