Defense Commissary Agency announces top stores for 2023

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. – The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) announced the winners of the 2023 Best Commissary Awards on March 1.

The awards were presented by John Hall, DeCA director and CEO, and Robert Bunch, DeCA acting deputy/chief operating officer and executive director for Store Operations, during the Store Operations Conference held Feb. 26 – March 1 at the DeCA Headquarters and Support Center at Fort Gregg-Adams.

"This year's winners put a lot of hard work into providing the best benefit for our patrons," Bunch said. "We have a lot of great employees at store level, and these awards are a testament to their commitment to their patrons."

Leaders from every zone and area attended the conference and accepted the awards on behalf of the winning stores.

Awards are given in five categories determined by store location and size. The awards are named in honor of government officials who protected the commissary benefit and championed quality-of-life issues for the military and their families. Each winner surpassed DeCA's accountability, customer satisfaction, unit cost, sales, accident rates and photo portfolio submission.

The 2023 winners are:

U.S. Best Small Commissary – Richard Paget Award

• 1st place – Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona

• 2nd place – U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona

Overseas Best Small Commissary – L. Mendel Rivers Award

• 1st place – Lajes Field, Portugal

• 2nd place – Marine Corp Base Camp Kinser, Okinawa, Japan

U.S. Best Large Commissary – Bill Nichols Award

• 1st place – Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia 

• 2nd place – Fort Wainwright, Alaska

Overseas Best Large Commissary – Dan Daniel Award

• 1st place – Camp Humphreys, South Korea 

• 2nd place – Grafenwoehr, Germany

U.S. Best Super Commissary – Director's Award

• 1st place – Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado

• 2nd place  – Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi.

"Congratulations to each of the winning stores," Bunch said. "Every year, we have a difficult time choosing winners for each category of award, and this year was no different. You should be very proud of your success."

DeCA area directors selected up to two stores per award category to represent the area. Nominations were judged on tangible and intangible qualities such as a friendly environment, a well-run store, a good work ethic and a sense of a cohesive team. Tangible qualities include:

• Sales

• Commissary Customer Service Survey

• Organization, cleanliness and visual appeal

• Safety

• Accountability

• Photo portfolio

• Display contests

• Special events.

-DeCA-

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, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. 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.