If you need to stock the pantry after your recent military move, or stock your lunch boxes, check your commissary's schedule to make sure you don't miss the local fall case lot sale.

Some commissaries are in the midst of their case lot sales: Fort Carson, Colorado; Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota; and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, finish out their three-day sales today. Others start their sales within the next few days; many other sales will pop up from now through the end of September.

To find out when the sale is coming to your store, visit www.commissary.com, click "Shopping" and then "Case lot sales."

These events offer savings as much as 50 percent over the commissary’s already discounted prices. Case lot sales are held over a two- or three-day period at commissaries in the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Typically the bargains are found in tents outside the stores in many locations, as well as specials displayed inside the store.

Stores overseas aren’t officially participating, but they may have substitute events such as sidewalk sales, according to Defense Commissary Agency officials.

The discounts may be found through buying in bulk, such as cases, of items, but stores also have additional "mix and match" packages of similar items in bulk sizes in products such as barbecue sauces, canned tomatoes, beans, certain pasta meals, cereals, snacks, water, tea and juices.

Items may vary by store, but some of the bargain categories include:

  • Fruit snacks, pudding snack packs, granola bars, fruit bars, pastries, peanut butter and popcorn
  • Water and flavored water, teas, juices, juice mixes, sodas, sports drinks and breakfast drinks
  • Frozen pizza and sausage links
  • Chilled items such as cheeses, yogurt and yogurt mix
  • Prepackaged meats such as lunch meat, bacon and pork loin*Pet supplies such as pet food, treats and cat litter
  • Pasta, pasta sauces, spices, rice, oriental noodles and bowls, chili mix and condiments
  • Cookies, brownies, pancakes and muffin mixes; oatmeal
  • Canned fruit, vegetables, soups, tuna and chili
  • Storage and freezer bags; paper products such as bathroom tissue, fabric softener sheets; cleaning supplies such as laundry detergent
  • Health and beauty care including diapers, wipes, shampoo and conditioner, soaps, shaving gels and body lotions

You'll notice there are plenty of items on this list that can help stock your school and work lunch boxes, so you might save a bundle by stocking up.


As always, do some price checking on items that you use before you venture out, to make sure you're getting a bargain; and check your supplies of items on hand.


Remember, you'll need space in your vehicle to transport your loot home, and you'll need adequate storage area — including refrigerator and freezer space.

Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.

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