THANKSGIVING SAVINGS: Commissaries are prime destinations for patrons seeking low prices to prepare their festive menus

FORT LEE, Va. – As the temperatures and the leaves begin to fall, prices on most grocery items in military commissaries are also dropping just in time for Thanksgiving.

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is slashing prices on most items to increase overall patron savings to at least 25 percent compared to commercial grocers as part of the Department of Defense initiative to bolster the economic security and stability of the military community.

“Your commissary can help you prepare a delicious and plentiful Thanksgiving meal while keeping the cost at a minimum,” said Bonita Moffett, DeCA’s sales director. “In addition to the lower prices, there will also be additional holiday savings you’ll find in your local commissary making the budget battle virtually won.”

With the following simple tips and money-saving promotions, your commissary will help you lay out a Thanksgiving spread to be proud of while not busting your budget:

• Use your sales flyer. The DeCA sales flyer offers customers many ways to save at their commissary. Take advantage of the Savvy Shopper Super Saver deals both in the store and online, Rewards Card digital coupons, Pathway to Savings instant rewards card savings, and BOGO deals, all featured in the sales flyer. DeCA recently expanded its sales flyer to overseas military families in the European and Pacific regions. Customers can now plan their next shopping trip or Commissary Click2Go order by accessing the sales flyer link and selecting the region of their choice.

• Exclusive savings on select frozen turkeys. Commissaries worldwide are offering significant savings through Thanksgiving on whole frozen turkeys. Customers can get a head start on the holidays or just pregame their turkey favorites at $.68/lb. for select brands. Availability and brands will vary by location.

• Take advantage of the Your Every Day Savings (YES!) Program. Commissaries are also bringing even more savings for customers through the new and improved Your Everyday Savings (YES!) Program. YES! offers extra savings and value on the products customers buy the most such as milk, eggs, butter, ground beef, baby products and more. Just look for the orange YES! shelf label.

• Make a list and stick to it. The commissary website has lots of dietitian-approved meal solutions. Use these recipes to help prepare your grocery list for an abundant and nutritious Thanksgiving meal.

• Shop your pantry. Plan dishes around ingredients you already have on hand.

• Shop Commissary Store Brands. Enjoy the quality and value of low-cost equivalents to national brands. Many of DeCA’s top-selling Commissary Store Brand items are perfect money-saving components for your Thanksgiving meal.

• Load commissary coupons onto your Commissary Rewards Card before you shop. Don’t have a rewards card yet? Pick one up at your local commissary and register it online at the DeCA website.

• Check out the savings on your commissary website. Head to the Savings Center on commissaries.com to get the best deals for coupons, sales flyers and featured items.

• Prepared foods: From appetizers to apple pies, your commissary’s deli-bakery can help save you time and money with their prepared foods.

• Buy produce that is in season. Using fruits and vegetables that are in season and readily available will save you money. See a list on the USDA website.

“With the commissary on your side, bringing the best to your Thanksgiving table can be easy and affordable, leaving lots of time to focus on the important things like gratitude and celebrating with family and friends,” Moffett said.

-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.