The United States Department of Defense has established a Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) with a Marketing Business Unit (MBU) headquartered at Fort Gregg-Adams, VA to operate worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries in a safe and secure shopping environment to the most deserving customers – our military personnel, retirees and their families throughout the world. The MBU operates similarly to all major food store chains with sales over four and half billion dollars annually. Since the DeCA commissary system is supported by congressional appropriations, U.S. government regulations are applicable. Authorized patrons can purchase items tax free plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. The Commissary benefit can save shoppers over 25% over the retailer’s prices every time they shop. Commissaries are an integral part of the military’s pay and compensation package. Because of the lower military pay and food insecurity concerns, the commissaries are very important to maintaining the quality of life and they are consistently surveyed as the number one top non-pay military benefit. DeCA strives to offer a valued benefit that contributes to family readiness, enhances the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and helps recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.
It is recognized that many manufacturers experience difficulties in doing business with the U.S. Department of Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA). There are unique complexities in dealing with 8+ military distributors who provide daily delivery services. A great deal of time and effort is spent on unauthorized deductions and resolving payment disputes. A supplier must also keep a personal credit card number on file with DeCA and be registered in SAMS. The supervision required for this specialized military market, which normally amounts to less than 3% of a manufacturers civilian sale’s, requires a long-term investment and attentiveness to details to all phases of DeCA’s system.
To be the grocery provider of choice for our eligible patrons – delivering a vital benefit exclusively for our military community and their families.
DeCA
The American Logistics Association (ALA) role as the legitimate voice for the military resale market (and being a true change-agent in support of a better quality of life) resonates now more than ever.
The ALA is a voluntary trade association of manufacturers, their representatives, brokers, distributors, publishers, and others who sell or provide products and services to military resale and MWR activities. Bisek & Company has been a long-time member of the ALA. The Mission of the American Logistics Association is to promote, protect, and enhance the military resale and quality of life benefits on behalf of our Members and the military community.”
The Military Resale Small Business Coalition (MRSBC) is a non-profit organization that brings together small businesses with a common mission: to promote and support military commissaries and exchanges worldwide.
Committed to upholding the highest standards of business ethics, MRSBC strives to serve its membership as a reliable source of accurate information and guidance. Bisek & Company is a founding member of Military Resale Small Business Coalition (MRSBC). This small business coalition joins together to make a difference to promote the benefit and savings to the military patrons.