Extra savings with Value Brands Published Feb. 29, 2016 By Senior Airman Janelle Patiño 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- In November 2014, the Defense Commissary Agency program designed Commissary Value Brands; quality goods at low prices to provide savings on national name brand items comparable to low-cost store brand or private label items in commercial stores. In December 2014, Fairchild started offering value brands to help customers save on their food budget. Customers are able to identify value brands by looking for the orange "value" tags on nearly 500 products across 54 categories. The tags identify the best value product in their category. The categories include frozen vegetables, pizza and entrées, pet foods, coffee, health and beauty care and more. "DeCA re-energized our Commissary Value Brand program to respond to a growing demand for private label and value-priced products similar to what's offered in commercial grocery stores," said Eric Quantock, Fairchild Commissary store director and team leader. "Value Brand items were selected based on criteria such as being lower priced than the equivalent store or a private label item and based on categories with a strong store or private label presence in retail." From the release of the value brands until December 2015, sales of the lineup products have increased seven percent for more than $120 million, according to Kevin Robinson, DeCA public affairs specialist. On average, value brand products save patrons approximately 23 percent when compared to the commercial retail stores' brand and private label items and about 38 percent against national brands, added Robinson. "The orange value tags make it easier and faster for us to do our grocery shopping," said Maribel Martinez McNamara, commissary customer. "They grab our attention and help us decide which products are the best." To view the list of Value Brands items, visit the DeCA website at http://www.commissaries.com/shopping/value-brands.cfm. For more information on deals and value brands, visit your local commissary or call them at (509) 244-5591. Editor's note: some information for this article was provided by the Defense Commissary Agency.