Commissary (store)

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A commissary at the Scotts Run coal mining camp, 1938, near Morgantown, West Virginia

Commissary for sharecroppers, on display at the Louisiana State Cotton Museum

A commissary is a store for provisions which can include prepared foods for eating either on-premises or off-premises. It is usually run within an organization such as a mining operation, a steel mill, a corporate center, or a government or military unit, and is usually intended, primarily, for the use of employees.

For instance, the United States Defense Commissary Agency operates commissaries that are similar to supermarkets, providing service members with most of the same products available in the United States regardless of where they are stationed abroad. Commissaries sell primarily grocery articles; other items can be purchased at a base exchange (BX) or post exchange (PX).^{[citation needed]}

Purpose[]

Military commissaries serve to provide groceries and household goods, at a reasonable cost, to many members within the Department of Defense regardless of the country in which the service members are posted. Eligible patrons include active-duty personnel in all services, retirees of all services, Guard and Reserve personnel, and immediate family members of service personnel.^[1] A secondary benefit of US military Commissaries is the opportunity for employment of family members.^[1] This is especially significant in overseas locations where acquiring a job could prove difficult for U.S. citizens.

Benefits[]

A commissary offers food and household items sold at cost plus five percent surcharge, eliminating sales tax.^[2] The average shopper can save more than 30 percent when compared to shopping in town.^[2] During the commissary customer appreciation case lot sale, an average saving of 50 percent or more is available. These benefits extend to online shopping as well. They also offer rewards cards that allow shoppers to add additional promotions, coupons, and discount savings.^[2] Shoppers can also enter many commissary contests, sweepstakes, and shopping sprees.^[2] Commissaries also offer gift cards and contribute to academic scholarships.^[2]

Examples[]

A prison commissary is often present in prisons.^{[3][failed verification]} There are also commissaries at some duty stations of the United Nations,^{[citation needed]} and on filming locations.^{[citation needed]}

See also[]

• Company store
• Sutler

References[]