Variable pricing is a method used to set item prices independently of their cost. Previously, the commissary sold items at cost and added a flat 5-percent surcharge. By doing so, it led to inconsistent savings across the store and across geographic regions. 

Providing our patrons great prices regardless of our cost is a major benefit of variable pricing. It allows us to set favorable prices to those items that our patrons purchase most often. In addition, variable pricing allows us to better compete with off-installation commercial grocery stores.

The most important aspect of variable pricing is that it does not change the overall patron savings. Prices on individual items may move up or down, but the net effect is no change to the overall market basket savings you gain when shopping your commissary.

Finally, variable pricing allows us to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.