Taking it to the streets

Worldwide 'Back to School' sidewalk sales coming to commissaries in August, September

Note: To see photos related to this news release, visit our Flickr page.

FORT LEE, Va. (July 20, 2017) – Worldwide "Back to School" sidewalk sales are coming to commissaries in August and September offering patrons significant savings on breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack items.

"Our worldwide sales events will be focusing on items for healthy family breakfasts, fresh-packed school lunches and after-school snacks that children can prepare themselves," said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency's director of sales. "These are definitely deals you won't want to miss – savings should be up to 40-50 percent, or even more in some instances."

The "Back to School" sales event will occur in lieu of the commissaries' traditional fall Customer Appreciation Case Lot Sale. Find dates and times for upcoming case lot and sidewalk sales.

These sales may offer club pack items, cases of popular favorite cereals and bottled water, and more. Fresh produce is also expected to be part of the events as well as lunchmeats and dairy products. Farmers' markets are also scheduled for some commissaries in August. Patrons can check with their local produce manager to see if a market is scheduled for their store.

Throughout August, DeCA's industry partners – vendors, suppliers and brokers – are collaborating with commissaries to offer discounts beyond everyday savings. Always check what's on the "end of the aisle" for themed items with extra low pricing. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs.

Customers should check with their local commissary for details on dates and times for the following sales events:

• Box Tops for Education, a General Mills school fundraising program, runs Aug. 1-27 in commissaries worldwide. Each product box top collected is worth 10 cents, and many General Mills items will have double box top value during the month. High-value coupons, in-store product demonstrations and mass displays are also part of the promotion. Details are on in-store displays and on the General Mills Box Tops for Education website.
• Happy New School Year! Kellogg's and Crayola have teamed up for this worldwide contest Aug. 1-27. Consumers can win "Crayola Cash" inside specially-marked packages of Kellogg's "back to school" food categories of ready to eat cereals, toaster pastries and cookies. Winning packages will contain stickers redeemable online for cash in denominations of $5, $10, $25 or $50. Non-winning packs will contain a customizable Crayola download for items such as locker paper or a book cover.
• "Feed Your Family, Feed the World." This Kraft Heinz Company stateside promotion runs Aug. 1-27, offering patrons $5 or $3 coupon deals on in-store displays promoting the name brand products. During this promotion, Kraft Heinz will donate up to 20,000 meals a day to "Rise Against Hunger."
• Sharing the commissary's 150th birthday with Armour! Both the Armour Star company and military commissaries are observing 150th anniversaries. Check your local commissary for Armour's 150th birthday celebration mass displays for special savings and coupons. NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver and owner of the Armour NASCAR, noted both observances: "I know better than anyone that the team around you makes all the difference in achieving success. We have the most successful armed forces in the world, and I would like to salute the commissary for being an invaluable team member to our military and their families. Just like Armour, the commissary is celebrating its 150th birthday this year, making a difference in the lives of the families they serve every day."

"Our produce sections are offering new snack cups that include dairy, protein and fresh fruit for after-school snacks that children can serve themselves," Russ said. "This is just one more example that your commissary has it all for your children's back to school nutritional needs."

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit and make no profit on the sale of merchandise. Authorized patrons save thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to commercial prices when shopping regularly at a commissary. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mil