Express Seminar 2024: Top Vendors Awarded for Contributions

Express managers celebrated the Exchange’s top suppliers for their continued support of our Nation’s heroes Wednesday during an award luncheon at the Express Seminar.

“During 2023, the award recipients helped the Exchange provide our shoppers with great offers and new products in our food and beverage categories,” said Consumables Vice President Martha Robuck. “We are grateful for their exceptional support and service to the best customers in the world.”

2023 Supplier of the Year Awards were presented to five suppliers for delivering the best tastes of home to the Nation’s heroes in 2023, including:

Old Trapper

Old Trapper increased sales by 17%, $4.1 million from the prior year, making it the meat snack supplier with the largest increase in Exchange sales.
Old Trapper received the Exchange’s 2023 Supplier of the Year award in March at the Retail, Food and Services Managers’ Conference.

E.A. Sween

E.A. Sween contributed more than $27 million in sales and more than $9 million toward the “hot to go” and sandwich categories in 2023.
The brand fully funded food warmers and carts, helping drive sales and convenience for hot grab-and-go food.
E.A. Sween also partnered with the Exchange to transport air shipments to Express stores in the Pacific Region.

From left: Exchange Vice President of Consumables Martha Robuck; two representatives of 2023 Supplier of the Year winner E.A. Sween; Executive Vice President/Chief Merchandising Officer Karen Cardin; Senior Enlisted Advisor Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Osby; and Senior Vice President of Merchandising Eric Sidman.

OLM Food Solutions

In 2023, OLM expanded operations with 17 fresh food concepts in 12 locations, including Chopz, Eddie Peppers, Paavos Pizza and Hot Stuff Kitchen—bringing in $1.1 million in revenue.

Beam Suntory

Beam Suntory provided promotional support with allocated products, private select barrels and limited-time offers. The incremental inventory produced roughly $1.7 million in sales, a 67% increase from the previous year.

Monster Energy

Monster Energy generated roughly $53 million in sales in 2023—an increase of 13% in dollars and 8% in units over the previous year.
The team also supported installation events and promotions, boosting the morale of service members.

In addition, 22 vendors were honored for donating snacks to the Exchange’s corporate outreach military community engagements, including the Army Ten-Miler, Air Force Marathon, the Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game. The Exchange’s Digital Media Networks team presented a thank-you video recognizing vendors that supported the organization’s engagements in 2023.

“These vendors create lifelong memories at events the Exchange supports for the military community,” said Exchange Chief of Staff Jose Hernandez. “The snacks that we give away at our booths always draw a crowd—and that helps the team educate and inform the military community about their lifelong Exchange benefit.”

The honored vendors were:

Benestar Brands (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Blue Diamond (Air Force Marathon and Army Ten-Miler)
Bridgford Foods (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Conagra Brands (Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Country Archer (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
E.A. Sween (Army Ten-Miler)
EURPAC Service, Inc. (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire)
Frito-Lay (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
General Mills (Air Force Marathon and Army Ten-Miler)
Gourmet Nut (Air Force Marathon, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Hershey Salty Snacks (Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Hippeas (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler and Army-Navy Game bonfire)
Kellanova (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler and Army-Navy Game)
Loacker (Air Force Marathon and Army Ten-Miler)
Lotus Bakeries (Army-Navy Game)
Mars Wrigley (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Old Trapper (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
Performance Inspired Nutrition (Air Force Marathon and Army Ten-Miler)
SNAX-Sational Brands (Army-Navy Game)
Solely (U.S. Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)
SkinnyDipped (Army-Navy Game bonfire)
Wonderful Pistachios (Air Force Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Army-Navy Game bonfire and Army-Navy Game)

Award winners and recognized vendors offer products to service members, tax-free with military-exclusive prices, at Express stores worldwide. For a Flickr album of vendor award winners, click here.

Check out all the coverage from the conference:

Express Seminar 2024: Convenience, Connections Deliver Taste of Home

Express Seminar 2024: Express Teams Take Home Rock Your Sales Prizes

Express Seminar 2024: Hunt Brothers Pizza Awards Expresses for Exceptional Sales

Express Seminar 2024: Retired Green Beret Returns to Share Message of Love

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