Three Air Force commissaries among five best

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Air Force commissaries were named "best" in three of the four categories in the Defense Commissary Agency's 2003 Best Commissary awards. Two other commissaries tied for "best" in the fourth category.

Top commissaries are at:

-- Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., winner of the Bill Nichols Award for the Best Large Commissary in the United States.

-- Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., winner of the Richard M. Paget Award for the Best Small Commissary in the United States.

-- Yokota Air Base, Japan, winner of the Dan Daniel Award for the Best Large Commissary Overseas.

Directors of winning stores received trophies March 6 at the DECA 2003 Conference and Training Event Awards Banquet in Norfolk, Va.

While three Air Force commissaries did rank as best in their respective categories worldwide, it does not mean other commissaries were lacking, explained DECA Director Maj. Gen. Michael P. Wiedemer.

"We're always striving to be consistent in the delivery of the commissary benefit, and by that I mean all of our stores are providing top-quality customer service in clean, attractive, well-stocked stores throughout the world," Wiedemer said. "These commissaries representing the 'best of the best' have demonstrated this."

The annual awards recognize overall excellence in store operations and service, and the competition improves the commissary benefit. The awards are named in memory of legislators who have protected the commissary benefit and championed quality-of-life issues for the military and their families.

The competition starts at DECA's four regions with selection of their best commissaries in the four categories. This year there were 11 finalists from the regions. DECA headquarters evaluators visited each regional nominee and assessed all aspects of operations -- management, customer service, grocery, meat and produce departments, and accountability controls -- and talked to managers, employees, customers and installation officials.

DECA's worldwide chain of nearly 280 stores provides groceries to military personnel, military retirees, and their families. Patrons buy at cost plus a 5 percent surcharge, which covers store-building and modernization costs. Shoppers save about 30 percent on groceries -- or about $2,400 annually for a family of four.

The other award winners were the Livorno commissary at Camp Darby, Italy, and the commissary at Keflavik Naval Station, Iceland. Both commissaries tied as winners of the L. Mendel Rivers Award for the Best Small Commissary Overseas.

The 1995 competition is the only other year that featured co-winners since the award's inception in 1992.