• ATLANTA
During the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) Exchange Managers Conference this week, the Merchandising and Services, Food & Fuel (SFD) directorates honored top Exchange vendors.
Winners of the Exchange Protection Plan Awards were also announced, as were the Exchange Safety Award winners.
Supplier of the Year Awards
Dude Wipes: The fastest-growing supplier in the bath tissue category, Dude Wipes increased sales by 326 percent from 2024 to 2025. The award also honors Paragon Brokerage, the military exchange representative for the products.
Quality Gold: As the fine jewelry industry experienced record prices in gold and silver, Quality Gold quickly responded to the shift in customer demand, offering products on guaranteed sale. Sales grew to $4.2 million in 2025, a 24-percent increase over prior year.
Mars Wrigley: The Exchange’s No.-1 candy supplier set the standard for balancing strong sales with responsible inventory management. Mars Wrigley improved inventory efficiency with a 25-percent reduction, balancing that with $18.6 million in sales, a 10-percent increase over prior year.
Military Prestige Marketing was recognized for its support in the beauty department, working with all military channels and with national brands. During 2025, Military Prestige Marketing pivoted to provide in-store vendor and buyer support, including employing the beauty consultants for Estee Lauder companies.
More than 300 beauty consultants are employed in Exchange stores worldwide. Up to 90 percent are military spouses or family members.
“The Exchange is honored to work with these vendors who make valuable contributions to serving those who serve,” said Exchange Executive Vice President/Chief Merchandising Officer (EVP/CMO) Eric Sidman. “They are important partners in increasing Quality of Life for military communities.”
SFD Brand Partners of the Year
PODS Moving & Storage: PODS, which supports nearly 120 CONUS and Hawaii Exchange locations, achieved $21 million in sales, a 1.4-percent increase over prior year. The moving and storage company also accepted the Military Star Card for the first time. The company’s military-exclusive promotions offered shoppers 15-percent to 30-percent savings.
OSL: With the addition of Verizon inventory in 2025, OSL allowed customers to choose a plan or phone from all major carriers. Through RQ Mobile, the company enabled phone sales at remote sites. Its internet category sales increased 105 percent over fiscal 2024. Overall, OSL, which operates in more than 30 of the Exchange’s largest stores, achieved a 46-percent increase in sales over fiscal 2024.
Subway: Since opening its first Exchange location in 2001 at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo., Subway has grown to nearly 120 Exchange locations, generating $62.3 million in sales and $8 million in earnings in fiscal 2025. During the 130th anniversary celebration, Subway contributed $130,000 in gift cards and distributed more than 55,000 units of Exchange-Subway co-branded merchandise to warfighters and their families worldwide.
iMenu360: The online ordering system, which collaborates with the Exchange on MyExchangeFood, has been an outstanding partner in digitizing the Exchange customer service experience in Pacific and Europe Regions. In fiscal 2025, the digital platform had more than 1 million restaurant orders, generating $31 million in sales; at Reel-Time Theaters, 230,000 online tickets were purchased, driving $2.4 million in revenue.
“These brands are key in providing tastes and comforts of home to warfighters and their families, wherever they serve,” said SFD Senior Vice President (SVP) Denise Hunter. “We celebrate their contributions to the Exchange’s ‘We go where you go’ mission.”
Exchange Protection Plan (EPP) Awards
Store teams that generated the most Exchange Protection Plan sales in 2025 were also recognized at the conference. First-, second- and third-place winners were chosen for achieving the highest attachment rates.
Stores with the highest sales per region were also awarded. Teams received a plaque and $500 for team-building events.
Here were the winners:
Eastern Region: First: Robins AFB, Ga., Main Store (9.5-percent attachment rate); Second: Fort Bragg, N.C., South Post Main Store (9.35-percent attachment rate); Third: Fort Drum, N.Y., Main Store (9.07-percent attachment rate)
Central Region: First: JB San Antonio, Texas, Lackland Main Store (9.37-percent attachment rate); Second: Fort Hood, Texas, Main Store (9.26-percent attachment rate); Third: Fort Campbell, Ky., Main Store (9.22-percent attachment rate)
Western Region: First: Fort Bliss, Texas, Main Store (9.85-percent attachment rate); Second: Fort Carson, Colo., Main Store (7.91-percent attachment rate); Third: Goodfellow AFB, Texas, Main Store (6.97-percent attachment rate)
Europe/Southwest Asia Region: First: Vicenza, Italy, Main Store (26.30-percent attachment rate, the highest worldwide); Second: RAF Lakenheath, U.K., Main Store (10.08-percent attachment rate); Third: Aviano, Italy, Main Store (6.32-percent attachment rate)
Pacific Region: First: Kadena AB, Japan, Main Store (12.57-percent attachment rate); Second: Osan AB, South Korea, Main Store (9.66-percent attachment rate); Third: Yokota AB, Japan, Main Store (9.18-percent attachment rate)
Regional winners for the highest 2025 EPP sales volume were:
Pacific Region: Kadena AB, Japan, Main Store, with $267,700 in sales
Central Region: Fort Hood, Texas, Main Store, with $207,000 in sales
Eastern Region: Fort Buchanan, P.R., Main Store, with $195,000 in sales
Europe/Southwest Asia Region: Vicenza, Italy, Main Store, with $141,000 in sales
Western Region: Fort Bliss, Texas, Main Store, with $140,000 in sales
“These store teams were exemplary in their knowledge of the Exchange Protection Plan and their engagement with customers,” said Hardlines Vice President (VP) Josh Samuels. “Their work is essential to the program’s success.”
Exchange Worldwide Safety Award
The awards recognize the Exchange and main stores in four categories that recorded the highest reduction in recordable accidents compared with the previous year.
The Fort Benning, Ga., Exchange (Eastern Region) received top honors in the Exchange Safety Awards, achieving a 75-percent reduction in recordable accidents and a 38-percent decrease in overall accidents.
Main Store Exchange Safety Award Winners
Small: Fort Wainwright, Alaska (Western Region); Accidents were reduced by 82 percent, and the team had zero recordable accidents for the second consecutive year.
Medium: Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., (Western Region); The BX reduced accidents by 86 percent and reduced recordable accidents to just one.
Large: Travis AFB, Calif., (Western Region); Overall accidents dropped 52 percent and recordable accidents by 71 percent.
Mega: Kadena AB, Japan (Pacific Region); Overall accidents fell by 57 percent and recordable accidents by 50 percent.
“These award winners continually put safety first,” said VP of Loss Prevention Tommie Caudle. “Their daily diligence makes their Exchange a safe environment for both shoppers and associates.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
