Kadena Commissary wins Best Outreach Award

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Angelique Perez
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Kadena Commissary is the proud recipient of the 2008 Best Outreach Award in the category of "best outreach to military families and spouses, overseas," awarded by the Defense Commissary Agency. 

DeCA recognized only seven commissaries worldwide, each for a different category, at the awards ceremony this year held in Richmond, Va., May 20. Zone managers who oversee operations of the winning commissaries accepted the awards on their behalf.
Kadena Commissary was submitted for the "Balloon Drop" and "Cookie Drive" events that took place during the holidays. 

"Everyone that works here contributes," said Mr. Rene Francisco, Kadena Commissary Store Director. "We wouldn't be able to hold these events without the involvement of the senior leaders, squadron leaders, military community and our industry partners, the vendors were big contributors." 

This was the 6th Annual Outreach Challenge held by DeCA for commissaries worldwide. They compete for most originality and creativity in marketing the benefits their stores offer. They are also judged on the effectiveness in reaching the intended audiences and bringing results. 

The challenge is meant to encourage commissaries to reach out their current and potential customers, while providing an opportunity for store directors to share their outreach practices with each other. 

DeCA Director and CEO, Philip Sakowitz Jr., said, "The best outreach efforts tend to echo great relationships between the stores and the military communities they serve. The DeCA team members involved in these outreach events have gone above and beyond our mandate to help spread the news about this benefit. Congratulations to the winning stores!" 

"The Commissary - It's Worth the Trip!" was the theme for this year's challenge. It emphasized targeting outreach and marketing to military families, spouses, retirees, and other key demographic groups. 

Kadena first went up against DeCA West commissaries, those in Korea, Japan, and Guam, and won that category before going up against the winners in the same category worldwide. 

Mr. Francisco said it is an honor to be selected among all the other competing commissaries, which are also very good. He said they won because of the great relationship between the Kadena Commissary and its military and civilian community. 

He said, "The support that we've received from the senior leaders, the spouses groups, industry partners, squadron leaders and most of all, our outstanding employees to ensure that every day shopping at the Kadena Commissary is worth the trip."