• DALLAS
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) honored four vendor partners as 2024 Suppliers of the Year in the convenience channel this month, recognizing their continued support for the military community.
“The Exchange’s vendor partners allow us to fulfill our 130-year-old ‘We Go Where You Go’ mission,” said Danielle Pelland, Consumables Vice President (VP). “Our Suppliers of the Year stand out for bringing the best ‘tastes of home’ to those who serve and have served.”
2024 SUPPLIERS OF THE YEAR
Hershey (OSCWEBco): In 2024, Hershey was the Exchange’s No.-1 candy supplier, achieving more than $18 million in sales, up 4 percent over the prior year.
Mondelez (S&K): Mondelez’s innovation and limited-time offers were instrumental in an 8-percent sales increase in the cookie-cracker category compared to the prior year.
Diageo: The vendor partnered with the Exchange’s pricing and merchant teams to develop and implement a targeted pricing plan focused on key items to enhance competitiveness and drive consumer purchases.
Red Bull: Red Bull achieved $36 million in sales with an increase of 5 percent compared to the prior year. The vendor partnered with the Exchange for early launches of limited-time offers as well as customer engagement, hosting events such as the Military Exclusive F1 Mobile Game and the KTM Dirt Bike Giveaway.
HONORED VENDORS
In addition, 22 vendors were honored for donating snacks to the Exchange’s military community engagements for corporate outreach, including the Army Ten-Miler, Air Force Marathon, the Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game.
The honored vendors were: Blue Diamond; Bridgford Foods; ConAgra Brands; Country Archer Provision; E.A. Sween; Ferrero
USA; Gourmet Nut; Hormel Foods; Kellanova; Lesser Evil Snacks; Lotus Bakeries; Love Corn; Mars Wrigley; Morinaga; Old Trapper; Performance Inspired; Rockit Global; Second Nature Brands; Snax-sational; Soley International; Utz Snacks; and Wonderful Pistachios.
“The snacks at Exchange outreach booths always draw big crowds and rave reviews from the military community,” said Senior Vice President (SVP) of Brand Marketing Sandi Lute.
“The Corporate Communication and Brand Marketing teams leverage these events to share Exchange relevancy with event goers, reminding them of their life-long Exchange benefit,” Lute added.
Source: AAFES
Edited by Larry Lapka
