April is the Month of the Military Child, and commissaries are celebrating with giveaways and savings for the entire family.
“Children in military households face unique challenges because of the demands of military life,” said Randy Chandler, DeCA’s sales director. “So, at the Defense Commissary Agency, we want to acknowledge them and do all we can to provide their families with great values on quality products they can depend on.”
DeCA’s industry partners – vendors, suppliers and brokers – are collaborating with commissaries in April to offer discounts beyond everyday savings. Overseas stores may have substitute events for certain promotional programs. Customers are asked to check their local commissary for details on dates and times for the following promotions:
- Proctor & Gamble is giving stateside commissary patrons a chance to have a Pro Camp Football event at their military installation. Nine camps will be hosted by an NFL athlete – Andre Roberts, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith or Arian Foster – as part of P&G’s “Family Unit”/USO cause program that reflects the spirit of the Defense Department’s Healthy Base Initiative. To help determine winning locations, Proctor & Gamble is hosting an in-store sales contest from April 3 to May 7. Shoppers will also have the opportunity to vote for their military installation to win a football camp. Store displays will offer more than $99 in BrandSaver coupons and $64 in E-saver coupons. For more contest information, visit P&G’s Family Unit at www.familyunitpg.com.
- Overseas Service Corporation is sponsoring the "Snowball Express” event stateside from April 3 to May 7. This sales event is focused on bringing awareness and raising money for the children of fallen military heroes who have died on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. Store displays will feature special discounted products and coupons.
- S & K Sales Company is sponsoring the “Salute to Military Families” promotion April 3 to May 7. More than 650,000 promotional flyers will be distributed in stores worldwide. A portion of each name brand’s sales will be donated to the National Military Family Association. Last year the promotion resulted in a $220,000 donation to the NMFA.
- “Child Hunger Ends Here” is ConAgra Food’s initiative supporting “Feeding America.” The “Feeding America” network features more than 200 food banks across the country and supplies food to more than 37 million Americans each year – some 14 million children and 3 million seniors, including military families. Here’s how it works: Shoppers who buy specially marked ConAgra Food products can enter their product codes at www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com to activate meal donations. Shoppers can also donate meals by redeeming ConAgra Foods commissary coupons available in stores.
- Keebler’s 15th Annual Hollow Tree promotion features savings on discounted Keebler products April 3 – May 7 at all stateside stores. Look for Ernie and the Keebler Elves on Keebler snacks displays.
- The Kellogg’s Company will be sponsoring a worldwide “Free Milk” promotion from April 24 to May 7. Patrons will receive a free gallon of milk with the purchase of any four Kellogg’s cereals or any four Keebler packages of cookies. Look for “Free Milk” coupons, in-store displays and discounted products.
- Throughout April worldwide, Eggo waffles and Breyers ice cream brands are teaming up to create a recipe event. The multi-faceted recipe partnership and program features the following: “The Great Eggo Waffle Off Contest” featured on packages of 6-, 8- and 10-count waffles; a recipe contest that is Facebook-driven and featured on both Eggo and Breyers Facebook sites; product demonstrations showing shoppers how to make fun recipe creations; and in-store coupons for Eggo and Breyers items.
- Unilever hosts the “Vitality” sales promotion from April 3 to 23 in stateside stores. Commissary shoppers may enter to win a free eco-friendly family vacation to Discovery Cove in Orlando. Discovery Cove combines education and entertainment, bringing its guests into the world of exotic animals and their habitats. Participants enter by posting their best environmental tip on the Operation In Touch Facebook page. The best tip wins the shopper and their family the trip to Orlando and Discovery Cove. Ten $100 commissary gift cards will also be awarded. There will also be 125,000 in-store coupon flyers featuring additional savings on the top Unilever vitality brands. Shoppers can also visit Unilever’s military specific website, www.OperationinTouch.com for healthy tips and recipes.
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. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5–percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices – savings amounting to thousands of dollars annually. 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.
