Online Commissary Opens for Business

Commissary patrons can now shop online by clicking on the Virtual Commissary link at www.commissaries.com. Kraft Foods, a business partner of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), is kicking off Internet shopping with a selection of gift baskets. “But the number of vendors and manufacturers participating will continue to increase, along with the variety of products,” said Patrick B. Nixon, DeCA’s chief executive officer and acting director. Customers must first access a secure portal and provide information to verify they’re enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). They then will be transferred to the manufacturer’s site, where they can get total cost for the product (including shipping) and complete their purchase via credit card. Access for Defense Department civilians stationed overseas will be delayed until late November, when the Defense Manpower Data Center expects to complete a necessary change to DEERS, said DeCA officials.