MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Commissary shoppers island-wide may notice a shortage of their favorite brand name grocery items in the upcoming weeks, due to a major distributor recently filing for bankruptcy.
Fleming Companies, Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, forcing some of the commissary's major brokers, manufacturers and suppliers to find new distributors.
Fleming's bankruptcy problem was exacerbated to some degree by the dock strike, the opening of the new Navy commissary at Pearl Harbor, and a few other new stores in the Pacific Region, according to a letter to MCB Hawaii's G-4, or Supply and Logistics.
"The Defense Commissary Agency is working very hard to improve the situation," said Jeffrey A. Dusich, store director for Kaneohe Bay Commissary. "These new local distributors are doing a better job filling our orders and keeping products on our shelves."
Hawaii commissaries have also initiated ordering of products directly from the continental U.S., mostly from California, to fill in the gaps.
"We're bringing products in by air and freight shipments regularly," said Dusich, "and we'll keep them coming until our distribution channels get back on track."
According to Dusich, these steps are leading to overall fill-rate improvements island-wide, with most commissaries reporting an increased stocking rate to approximately 90 percent.
Further, Dusich said, the distribution of items such as milk, eggs, meat products, fresh fruits, vegetables and bread will not be affected by the distribution situation.
"We may not have your favorite brand of spaghetti sauce, and we are working to get you your brand, but we will have spaghetti sauce when you come to the commissary," he said, explaining other brands are available.