U.S. ARMY GARRISON HUMPHREYS – The Army & Air Force Exchange Service launched a new era of service and support for the Pacific military community with the unveiling of a new distribution center and bakery at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys.
Exchange Director/CEO Tom Shull, Eighth Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Willard Burleson, Exchange Chief Operating Officer Jason Rosenberg, Pacific Regional Vice President Scott Bonner and Pacific Regional Distribution Center Manager Nick DeVincenzo delivered remarks at the 255,800-square-foot facility’s grand opening on Nov. 19.
“This is a great day for the Exchange and the heroes and families serving in Korea,” Shull said. “Having the distribution center and bakery on USAG Humphreys makes delivery of needed tastes of home faster and more efficient, strengthening our mission to make Humphreys home for Warfighters and their families.”
The grand opening was the culmination of a nine-year effort to relocate most of the Exchange’s Korea operations in support of the Yongsan Relocation Plan, a U.S. Army effort to move most forces and command activities from Seoul and other parts of the country to Humphreys.
The new facility replaces the distribution center and bakery at Camp Market, which operated out of a complex of nine buildings—some of which dated back to the 1930s—for more than 45 years. It is the final Exchange operation to move as part of the larger Korea relocation effort.
“This state-of-the-art distribution center and bakery stands as a testament to the Exchange’s longstanding commitment to troops and families living and serving on the peninsula,” Burleson said. “The Exchange team’s efforts over the past nine years have been critical in preparing U.S. Forces Korea, Eighth Army and U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys for the next chapter of the U.S. mission in Korea.”
Built by the Republic of Korea, the distribution center is the Exchange’s largest in the Pacific, with more than double the pallet storage capacity of Camp Market and a team of nearly 175 associates including fleet and facility management personnel. In addition to shipping merchandise to Exchanges in Korea, the distribution center supplies stores on military installations in Japan, Okinawa, Guam, Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan and American Samoa.
The facility’s 25,000-square-foot bakery produces goods from American name brands such Wonder Bread and, in a first for Korea Exchanges, Krispy Kreme doughnuts. Staffed by a team of 44 associates, the bakery also makes bread, buns, cakes, chips, tortillas and more for distribution to Exchange main stores, restaurants and Express convenience stores, as well as commissaries, Department of Defense Education Activity schools, dining facilities and other DoD entities throughout Korea.
The new location is estimated to reduce travel distances by 31% compared to Camp Market, saving the Exchange about $225,000 in transportation costs over five years and reducing the organization’s carbon footprint.
The facility’s move follows the November 2017 opening of a 300,000-square-foot Exchange shopping center at Humphreys, as well as the opening of 46 and relocation of 19 Exchange facilities as part of the broader Korea relocation effort. About 44,000 personnel are expected to live and work at Humphreys following the completion of the Yongsan Relocation Plan.
Social media friendly version: The Army & Air Force Exchange Service unveiled a new, 255,800-square-foot distribution center and bakery Nov. 19 at U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, completing its nine-year effort to make Humphreys home for Warfighters and their families. Read more: https://wp.me/p9Q7PG-1Uv.
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Since 1895, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange) has gone where Soldiers, Airmen, Guardians and their families go to improve the quality of their lives by providing valued goods and services at exclusive military pricing. The Exchange is the 54th-largest retailer in the United States. 100% of Exchange earnings support military communities. In the last 10 years, your Exchange benefit has provided $3.4 billion in earnings for critical military Quality-of-Life programs. The Exchange is a non-appropriated fund entity of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors. The Exchange is a 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Partner, planning and conducting events and activities that recognize the service, valor and sacrifice of Vietnam Veterans and their families in conjunction with the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our website at http://www.shopmyexchange.com or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ExchangePAO.
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Media Notes:
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