• RAF MOLESWORTH, England
Airmen, families and civilians here now have a revitalized place to shop and dine in following the grand opening of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service’s (AAFES) newly upgraded RAF Molesworth Express and its addition of Hunt Brothers Pizza.
The more than 2,000-square-foot store, originally converted into an Express in the early to mid-1990s, was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Exchange last month.
THE RENOVATION PROJECT
The $787,000 renovation project, funded by $650,000 in appropriated funds and $137,000 from the Exchange, marks the first major upgrade to the facility in decades, and represents a significant investment in quality-of-life improvements for the remote installation.
The transformation was made possible through a strong partnership among headquarters and local teams, including Real Estate’s (RE) Facility Management Office; Information Technology (IT); Store Operations, the Europe Region Office; the RAF Molesworth Express team; local Civil Engineering; and many others who supported the effort.
Renovations included extensive behind-the-scenes upgrades, including utility improvements, fire-prevention enhancements, and the renovation of a former chaplain’s area, along with the installation of the new Hunt Brothers Pizza kitchen.
The additional space made available from the old chaplain’s office nearly doubled the size of the sales floor and provided more space for the quick-serve restaurant (QSR) and additional merchandise.
This was also the first Hunt Brothers Pizza implemented by the Exchange in the United Kingdom.
Additional Exchange resources allowed the store to refresh its fixtures, update graphics and signage, add new foodservice equipment, and install an external walk-in freezer to support a broader assortment.
More enhancements, including checkout area updates and expanded kitchen capabilities, are planned for the near future.
TEAM EFFORT
Col. Michael Fleming, 423rd Air Base Group commander, joined the Exchange and partner teams to officially cut the ribbon, praising the extensive collaboration required to complete the project and emphasizing how meaningful the improvements will be for the Molesworth community.
“This was a true team effort from start to finish,” said Matthew Beatty, U.K./Norway Consolidated Exchange general manager (GM).
“It took time to get here, but the result is a major improvement for Molesworth,” he explained. The base’s support was critical, and I’m grateful to all the teams who helped make it happen. We truly appreciate every team that had a hand in making this a success.”
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT
Since the store’s grand opening, the RAF Molesworth community has shown enthusiastic support. Traffic through the Express has noticeably increased, and customers are responding positively to the refreshed assortment and the improved shopping experience.
Hunt Brothers Pizza has quickly become a favorite among visitors, and other food and beverage options are seeing stronger engagement as well.
Newly added Sports Nutrition Department items are gaining momentum, signaling that the improvements are resonating with shoppers.
“These smaller, remote locations really appreciate the upgrades and are supporting with their wallet,” said Stephanie Burns, senior vice president (SVP) for the Europe, SW Asia and Africa Region. “The community’s response shows the powerful impact of this transformation and the dedication of the Molesworth team.”
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
