Pomeroy added that a key consideration when enhancing existing menus with healthier items “is to maintain profitability and meeting the wants and needs of our customers. We are keenly aware that our objective is not to dictate to Marines what they can or should eat, but instead provide a variety of healthier alternatives that perhaps have not been offered before.”

To that end, a trend that is being pursued is menu labeling of calorie counts and menu items categorized as healthy selections. “Subway has been very success-ful doing this with their ‘6 grams of fat or less’ group of sandwiches, and I think you will see other major brands follow suit to a certain degree in the months and years ahead.”

ROSTER ADDITIONSPomeroy said that in 2011, popular brands that

were added to the portfolio included Mark Pi’s Asian Cuisine aboard MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, and on the same installation, the fourth direct-operated Starbucks location commenced operations.

In 2012, the executive said that MCAS Cherry Point, N.C., is slated to welcome the Marine Corps’ first Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant later this year. MCAGCC Twentynine Palms opened a Jamba Juice outlet in the spring.

SERVING CUSTOMERSWith these new food options joining more estab-

lished outlets on Marine Corps installations, Pomeroy said the most important thing to remember is that these establishments exist to serve their customers.

“It is an honor to serve those who serve our great

The Marine Corps’ Semper Fit and Exchange Services Division, the entity that oversees the

Marine Corps Exchange (MCX), is “gung-ho” about the Marine Corps Community Services’ (MCCS) portfolio of fast food and restaurant establishments.

The performance of that portfolio during the past year has created this optimism, said branch head Ric Pomeroy. The food and beverage program — exclud-ing gaming and bingo revenues — generated gross sales of $171.48 million in fiscal 2011, with another $19.40 million in what he referred to as “other income streams,” totaling nearly $191 million during the fiscal year in combined revenues.

The Food, Hospitality & Entertainment Branch oversees 107 direct-run restaurants, snack bars and mobile restaurants, and 110 indirectly run operations — also known as third-party franchises. The total includes 46 clubs aboard 18 installations. The branch is also now responsible for the operation of Marine Corps bowling alleys, golf courses, theaters and other similar facilities (see story page 3).

Collectively, the Marine Corps features 96 restau-rants in the fast food segment, totaling gross sales of more than $88.7 million in fiscal 2011, representing a 3.4-percent increase from prior year.

“Virtually our entire fast food portfolio is out-sourced to local operators and owners in the communi-ties in which our Marine Corps installations operate,” Pomeroy explained. (See chart on page 42.)

TRENDS“We are very pleased with how our fast food portfo-

lio has performed this past year, and supported MCCS in our mission to keep faith with Marines and Sailors,” Pomeroy told E and C News. “The state of the economy has impacted sales. However, often the trend that we see is business shifting away from higher-priced venues off-installation — or even from the clubs — towards our fast food venues or quick-serve food offered in our Marine Marts. We are working hard this year to focus our efforts on ensuring the food we serve in our Marine Marts, clubs, snack bars and outsourced restaurants are of top quality and offered at the right price.”

Pomeroy also noted that, “As units deploy and return, our business levels tend to ebb and flow ac-cordingly. Deployment levels have a significant impact on installation demographics and business levels.”

HEALTHY EATINGBuoyed by the success of the program, Pomeroy

said the Food and Hospitality Branch “continues to seek out exciting and relevant foodservice brands that can provide a healthy eating alternative to sup-port the Marine Corps lifestyle, while at the same time providing a variety of cuisine and all the same national and regional brands one might find outside the gate, highlighted by such iconic brands as Subway,

McDonald’s, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, Domino’s Pizza, Papa John’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s.”

Looking back at fiscal 2011 and ahead in fiscal 2012, Pomeroy said “The trend within the Marine Corps and the Commandant’s Guidance has been to-wards providing healthier alternatives,” he noted. “We endeavor to accomplish this not only by enhancing existing menus with the addition of healthy and low-calorie menu items, but also by partnering with brands whose business models are built around healthy food.”

Pomeroy noted that “MCCS leadership at the local command level certainly has a great deal of input in regards to how our directly run operations function and what they offer.

“We have conversations with brand representa-tives about brand initiatives, and … trends aboard our installations to keep the stores on the cutting edge. Above all, it is extremely important to MCCS that our branded stores offer the same promotions, products and service as stores that operate outside our gates. We feel that our Marines, Sailors and their families deserve no less.”

The creation of a new branded food outlet to be housed inside select Marine Marts has advanced this goal. The outlet, still unnamed at press time, features the tagline “Eat to Win,” symbolizing “the many healthy items featured on the menu,” Pomeroy said. “This concept will soon be tested in one of our busiest Marine Marts aboard MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., and we are very excited about the potential enhancement that this brand will provide. ... Once we have substan-tial proof of concept and a buy-in from our Marines at Camp Lejeune ... .”

Enhancing existing menus with healthy and low-calorie menu items, and partnering with brands whose business models are built

around healthy food, are among the strategies MCX is pursuing to meet the Marine Corps Commandant’s guidance on food and

nutrition. MCB Quantico, Va. Photo By RiCk SanBoRn

Quality and SelectionAt the Tip of the Spear

Pomeroy

EXChanGE and CoMMiSSaRy nEWS40 | AUGUST 2012

MCX NBFF

MCLB ALBAny, GA. Subway $351,077 mobile canteen $37,100 mobile deli $10,424Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $398,601 MCLB BArsTow, CALif. Yermo Snack Bar $368,183Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $368,183 CAMp BuTLer, okinAwA, JApAn Macaroni Grill $3,048,626Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,048,626

MCB CAMp LeJeune, n.C. Burger King1 $1,850,168 Subway2 $2,016,728 Domino’s Pizza2 $4,394,204 Burger King3 $1,580,159 Michaelangelos3 $354,668 Andy’s Burgers $219,175 Michaelangelos 1&2 $403,402 Michaelangelos4 $301,429 Subway4 $521,035 Wendy’s4 $617,114 Subway5 $335,744 Domino’s Pizza5 $470,710 Gourmet Grill $100,195 Wendy’s6 $3,180,460 Michaelangelos7 $572,430 Mobile Events $207,456 Ben & Jerry’s $96,694 Dunkin’ Donuts $1,745,191Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$18,966,962 MCAs Cherry poinT, n.C. McDonald’s $3,599,334 Sub Shop $799,780 Dunkin’ Donuts $184,793 Mall Food Exhibitors $10,202 Cold Stone Creamery $12,8811 Andy’s Burgers $144,164 USNH Coffee Shop $5,336Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4,756,490 CAMp ALLen, VA. Quiznos $355,510Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $355,510

MCB hAwAii Papa John’s Pizza $1,454,914 McDonald’s $4,245,402 Subway $1,357,517 Subway1 $583,505 Taco Bell $1,013,922 Churchs Chicken $260,698 Dairy Queen $262,957 Gourmet Delight $190,257 Chinese Garden $624,528 Chinese Express $337,265Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$10,330,965

MCAs iwAkuni, Seattle’s Best Coffee $379,826JApAn Baskin-Robbins $235,606 Soba Express $458,129 Gorilla Juice $32,580 Gyro $38,588 Burger King $872,372 Subway $972,676 Taco Bell $673,783 Pizza Hut $958,444 KFC $436,889 A&W Restaurant $649,721Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,708,614Note: All of the venues listed on this installation are directly oper-ated food concepts.

MCAs MirAMAr, CALif. McDonald’s $4,225,739 Sodexo Food Court $1,053,779 Sodexo Snack Bars $757,750 Sodexo Stateside Café $35,690 Moody’s Lunch Service $62,906 Palms Restaurant-Bar $85,883 Chip Shot-Bar $27,427 Palms Restaurant-Food $417,061 Chip Shot-Food $39,905Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$6,706,140

MCAs new riVer, n.C. Subway $475,435 Wendy’s $2,199,712 Noble Roman’s Pizza $933,768 Lakeside Coffee $40,249Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,649,164

MCB CAMp pendLeTon, CALif. Domino’s1 $3,190,393 Domino’s2 $2,726,557 Subway3 $637,214 Subway1 $1,956,248 Subway4 $397,571 Subway5 $411,929 McDonald’s6 $4,616,911 Pizza Hut7 $604,551 McDonald’s8 $3,203,805 Subway9 $443,199 Subway7 $1,309,178 Wendy’s $2,081,461 Roberto’s $536,735 Food Service6 $486,544 Food Service5 $298,511 Panda Express8 $1,667,023 Seaside Square Food $526,582 McDonald’s10 $638,430 Food Service11 $36,810 Food Service2 $231,860 Mexican Food1 $429,810 Asian Food $173,932 Mexican Food2 $621,081 Mexican Food5 $17,906 Special Functions $198,698 Coffee Cart4 $73,718 Seaside Square Coffee Shop $33,885 Hawaiian Coffee Concession $319,602 Coffee Bean $807,454 Catering $101,665

MCCS Fiscal 2011 Third-Party Foodservice Operations By Command

KEY:1 Industrial2 Hadnot Point3 French Creek4 Food Court5 Tarawa Terrace6 Mainside7 Camp Johnson

KEY:1 Mainside2 School of Infantry (SOI)3 Margarita4 San Mateo5 Horno6 Chappo7 Del Mar8 Pacific Plaza9 Las Flores10 Las Pulgas11 San Onofre

KEY: 1 Mokapu Mall

MCB CAMp pendLeTon, Courtyard Rotations $1,651,805CALif. (cont.) Base Coffee Service $261,853 Johnny Rockets $771,770 Cold Steel Bar $57,844 Coco’s $918,489Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$32,441,024 Note: The base’s Mobile Truck Catering did not report fiscal 2011 sales.

MCB QuAnTiCo, VA. McDonald’s $2,762,858 Subway1 $744,340 Exchange Food Court $1,607,926 Subway2 $389,619 Subway3 $983,222 Dominic’s $3,165 Event Food Vendors $34,592 Linx Food Service $81,501Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$6,607,223

MCCs souTh CAroLinA Subway1 $509,256 Subway2 $521,898 Backyard Burger2 $364,646 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,395,800

MCAGCC TwenTynine Domino’s Pizza $491,925pALMs, CALif. Taco Bell Express $1,344,431 Carl’s Jr. $2,131,425 Churchs Chicken $253,897 Charley’s Grilled Subs $718,010 Extreme Pita1 $212,324 Domino’s Pizza2 $188,899 Churchs Chicken2 $112,379 Mark Pi Asian $397,345 Walter’s Pizzeria $203,055 Cold Spot $32,400 Jasmine’s Coffee3 $24,732 Jasmine’s Coffee2 $42,018 Cinnabon3 $17,726 Cinnabon2 $1,384 Carvel Ice Cream $12,430 Fishalicious $129,539 Mustard’s Last Stand $14,665 Intermission Café $277,482 DiCarlo’s Italian Café $1,026,421Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$7,632,487

MCAs yuMA, Ariz. Deli $949,370 Rice King $614,377 Benito’s Pizza $704,529 Carl’s Jr. $812,118Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3,080,394 Note: MCRD San Diego, Calif., Specialty Catering reported no sales in fiscal 2011.

Marine Corps fast food $88,734,767Marine Corps Qsr food $16,700,898Note: does not include new eateries that opened during fiscal 2012. Source: MCCS/MCX

insTALLATion Vendor neT sALes insTALLATion Vendor neT sALes insTALLATion Vendor neT sALes

KEY:1 Mainside2 The Base’s School (TBS)3 Russell-Knox

KEY:1 Golf Course2 Camp Wilson3 Mainside

KEY:1 MCAS Beaufort 2 MCRD Parris Island

establishments. Lastly, we coach our teams to smile and greet every Marine we encounter, and to remember we are in the service industry, not the robotic ‘trans-actional’ industry.” —E and C NEWS

nation and communities all across the globe,” he noted. “Our MCCS employees feel a tremendous sense of honor and pride in this regard and help carry us through when business levels get tough. Our employees can withstand ‘rush’ periods like no other because of a

great emotional connection to Marines!“We also regularly talk about the importance of

sanitation and food safety in our operations and how we take very seriously our role in keeping Marines and their families safe and healthy when eating in our

EXCHANGE and COMMISSARY NEWS42 | AUGUST 2012

MCX NBFF