Some of the larger stores in DeCA do more business in one day than any of the largest retailers do in a week.  Some of the biggest stores in DeCA do anywhere from five to eight million dollars in sales a month, and they're only open 48 hours a week, where the "Big Box" stores are seven-day operations, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.  DeCA does more in eight hours than a normal retailer will do in a week's sales. 

The military market is one of the most powerful and effective vehicles for a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company to continue to build its brand loyalty and equity.

• Tremendous opportunity for manufacturers to reach a loyal customer base
• $5.8 billion in sales worldwide
• If DeCA were a retail chain, it would be the 16^th largest supermarket chain
• If you measure at cost, DeCA is the #2 retailer in the world
• DeCA is the only worldwide chain
• DeCA employs 18,000 people in nearly 255 locations
• Commissaries generate more sales volume per store than any other grocery retailer

The Military Commissary System:

• Serves more than ten million people
• Carries minimal private label
• Sells product at cost plus a 5% surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones
• Delivers 100% pass-through of deal money

Commissaries are more like club stores than traditional grocery stores:

• The average customer transaction in the commissary is more than twice that of a civilian supermarket
• DeCA sells 300% more per operating hour than its civilian counterparts
• DeCA sales are 20% more per store, per week than civilian stores
• DeCA stocks an average of 17,000 items (less than half of what a traditional supermarket stocks; 45,000 on average)
• DeCA has only 2,930 sq. ft. less selling space (on average) than a civilian supermarket (31,260 sq. ft. vs. 34,190 sq. ft.)

This market offers key strengths:

• 255 stores average 1/3 million dollars per week, per store
• Young families represent an ideal market to develop brand loyalty
• High brand loyalty in the absence of private label
• No slotting fees
• Manufacturer price reduction savings go straight to the customer

Giving you access to loyal military shoppers:

• Commissary privileges are the #1 non-pay military benefit
• Available to active duty, retired and reserve personnel, civilians stationed overseas, and their families
• Saves shoppers in excess of 30% across the board
• The average military person who shops the commissary saves approximately $3,400 a year for a family of four

DeCA shoppers are unique:

• Most Active Duty patrons (55.2%) are married
• The median family size is greater in the military (3.5 compared to the civilian world at 3.2)
• Retirees number 4.9 million (with $28.2 billion in payroll)
• Reservists comprise 21.3% of the actual shopper base. On an average commissary visit, they spend 61% more than Active Duty Personnel and 20% more than retired shoppers
• Active Duty Patrons spend 60% of their grocery budget in commissaries (approximately $265 per month)

Alder Foods, Inc.
One Foxhill Drive, Walpole, MA 02081 Tel: (508) 660-1993 Fax: (508) 660-8816 info@AlderFoods.com