DeCA Director and CEO Visit to the Exchange’s Europe Logistics Hub Underscores Collaborative Partnership
The Exchange welcomed leaders from the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) for a look at the Germersheim Distribution Center and Gruenstadt bakery, which help support DeCA in Europe and beyond.
On April 5, DeCA Director and CEO John Hall and other commissary leaders toured the 420,000-square-foot Germersheim DC, where about 200 Exchange associates receive and route food, beverages and supplies destined for PXs, BXs, commissaries and more throughout Europe, Southwest Asia and contingency locations.
The logistics collaboration between the Exchange and DeCA at Germersheim started in 2021 and has seen great success with the integration of systems including electronic Procurement service, which allows for a simplified ordering process from the DC and the Gruenstadt bakery.
“This is a fascinating and awesome operation; I knew what happened here but I didn’t know how it happened, so I have been very impressed with the quality of the work and the quality of the products that are produced here,” Hall said. “I’m very confident that they are great products for DeCA and AAFES customers and I’m really proud of the partnership that we have together to serve our customers together.”
The Germersheim DC ships beverages and boxed food for the commissary and Exchange restaurants, as well as appliances and other merchandise for main stores and Expresses throughout the region. The DC also receives and routes raw goods and American ingredients to the Exchange’s bakery and water plant in Gruenstadt.
“Cooperative efforts in Germany are critical to the delivery of strong Quality of Life support throughout Europe and Southwest Asia,” said Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull. “Collaboration and a robust partnership are key to providing the very best tastes of home to service members and families overseas.”
DeCA Director and CEO John Hall (foreground, in yellow vest) visits the Germersheim Distribution Center, ships beverages and boxed food for the commissary and Exchange restaurants, as well as appliances and other merchandise for main stores and Expresses throughout the region. Also pictured are Exchange Europe/Southwest Asia Commander Col. Don Nowlin, Senior Vice President Stephanie Burns and Regional Vice President Michele Weisshaar (behind Nowlin).
On April 8, Hall and his team toured the 120,000-square-foot Gruenstadt bakery, where the Exchange produces name-brand bread, cakes and other goods for Exchange Express stores and restaurants; commissaries; military dining halls; Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities; Department of Defense schools; and other DoD entities throughout Europe.
The co-located water bottling plant produces bottled water for Exchanges and commissaries. The plant ensures a steady flow of fresh, locally sourced purified drinking water for service members and their families from brands such as Culligan and DeCA’s private-label Freedom’s Choice.
“Worldwide, DeCA is the Exchange’s biggest food plant operations customer,” said Don Henson, Exchange food plant operations manager. “We have an excellent partnership with them, and it’s great to build on that by welcoming them to the Gruenstadt bakery and plant.”
Hall reemphasized, “This operation really shows the power of the partnership between the Exchange and DeCA, and how, together, we can better deliver products to our customers.”
DeCA Director and CEO John Hall, left, listens as Gruenstadt Bakery Manager Matthias Baum explains a bakery process while Phattheera Holtzhaeuser decorates doughnuts. Behind Hill, partly obscured, is Food Plant Operations Manager/General Manager Don Henson.
