Tag Archives: Wayne Walk

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Commissary reintroduces cooked poultry products in South Korea by Labor Day

FORT LEE, Va., 2015-8-13— /EPR Retail News/ — Commissary shoppers in South Korea will begin to see cooked poultry products back on shelves by Labor Day.

On July 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a revision to Korea’s embargo to allow heat-treated poultry and poultry products from the U.S. Learning the news, the Defense Commissary Agency quickly placed orders with its U.S. suppliers to restock the shelves of commissaries in South Korea with cooked poultry products.

“Frozen dinners, pot pies, nuggets, lunch meats, franks, Lunchables and other popular cooked poultry products will begin to arrive by early September,” said Wayne Walk, DeCA’s zone manager in Korea. “With school starting back up, this is great timing for parents packing lunches and for anyone looking for easy-to-prepare meals.”

South Korea’s embargo had restricted the entry of all poultry products into the country since last December when the U.S. announced the presence of avian influenza in live poultry flocks in Oregon and California, followed by additional outbreaks in other U.S. states.

Uncooked poultry from the U.S. is still restricted by the embargo, but DeCA has alternate sources for uncooked poultry to replace many of the items it previously received from U.S. suppliers.

“We offer fresh, uncooked chicken and eggs from Korea,” said Walk. “We have whole chickens, chicken breasts, boneless thighs and drumsticks. These products are not frozen and are ready to take home and cook immediately.”

Commissaries also began offering chicken from Australia this month.

“Shoppers will find Steggles of Australia chicken in the freezer section in tray packs,” said Walk. “Steggles is supplying our commissaries here in Korea with chicken products that have historically been popular with our shoppers – skinless, boneless breasts and thighs; tenderloins; wings and drumsticks.”

“We’re working continuously to provide our customers with the very best service and product assortment,” said Walk. “The embargo has been an opportunity for DeCA to work a little harder to ensure military members and their families stationed in Korea have the products they need when they use their commissary benefit.”

The USDA advises consumers to always follow proper handling and cooking processes when working with poultry. Food safety and avian influenza information can be found in the USDA Food Safety and Avian Influenza Questions and Answers, April 2015.

Note: For a photo related to this news release, please visit our Flickr page.

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.

Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mil

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Camp Carroll Commissary, South Korea to reopen on July 14 after an extensive year-long renovation

FORT LEE, Va., 2015-6-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — After an extensive year-long renovation, the Camp Carroll Commissary, South Korea, will reopen July 14 with events including sales promotions, product samplings and drawings for prizes.

“Customers who remember the old Quonset hut building that housed the Camp Carroll Commissary will find it hard to believe what they see,” said Wayne Walk, DeCA’s zone manager in South Korea. “Every corner of the store is virtually new. Very few signs of the former commissary remain.”

The extensive remodeling began last summer and completely renovated the store’s interior and exterior. The work included replacing the roof, HVAC, lighting, electrical and fire suppression systems. Although the store’s footprint hasn’t changed, to give the sales floor an additional 648 square feet, a wall was removed and the sales floor was extended 8 feet into the warehouse.

“Bumping into the warehouse increased the sales floor by nearly 15 percent,” said Walk, “giving us more space to stock groceries and customers will have more elbow room in the aisles.”

Most of the store equipment was replaced, including all the chill and frozen cases that were upgraded to energy-efficient models. All interior finishes and signage were replaced with a colorful new décor that draws its hues from nature and complements the new larger produce department.

Outside, an entrance canopy and a covered walkway give customers protection from the elements, and a large free-standing exterior sign announces the store is open six days a week – closed on Wednesday – and lists store hours. The parking lot was also resurfaced and restriped.

Commissary employees and suppliers are scheduled to begin stocking the shelves July 10 for the grand reopening July 14.

“We’re proud to open this beautiful and modern, compact grocery store,” said Solange Gates, store director for the Camp Walker and Camp Carroll commissaries. “The renovation brings a greater selection and variety to our customers, while offering a fresh, new feel to their shopping experience.”

Gates added that the Camp Carroll Commissary will fill customer orders for fresh fruit and vegetable trays and grocery and meat items not regularly stocked in the Camp Carroll store but available at the larger Camp Walker Commissary. She said most orders can be filled within 48 hours.

During the year-long construction project, while the commissary was closed for renovation, the U.S. Army Garrison Daegu ran a shuttle bus from Camp Carroll to the Camp Walker Commissary two days a week for the convenience of the 2,000 soldiers and family members who rely on the Camp Carroll store for groceries. The bus service is scheduled to end when the Camp Carroll Commissary reopens.

NOTE: For photos related to this release, please visit our Flickr page.

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.

Media Contact:
Kevin L. Robinson
(804) 734-8000, Ext. 4-8773
kevin.robinson@deca.mil