‘Exchange Select’ quality and price take BX benefit further Published March 10, 2008 By Michele Ware Army and Air Force Exchange Service EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- As energy prices rise and consumer confidence slides, budget-conscious military shoppers at Eglin AFB are maximizing their exchange benefit as they reach for "private label" products manufactured under the Exchange Services' "Exchange Select" brand. "Our 'Exchange Select' products save our exchange shoppers anywhere from 20 to approximately 50 percent when compared to name brand counterparts," said the BX's General Manager Ronald Daugherty. "And savvy shoppers know that this added savings doesn't come at the price of reliability; as the Exchanges' 'exclusive label' merchandise offers quality that is equal to or better than equivalent national brands." Some examples of "Exchange Select" savings available today include: Name Brand Mint Mouthwash 1 liter $3.99 "Exchange Select" Mint Mouthwash 1 liter $1.79 55% savings Name Brand Ibuprofen 50 ct $4.85 "Exchange Select" Ibuprofen 50 ct $1.99 59% savings Name Brand Hi-Potency Multi-Vitamin 100 + 30 tabs $9.55 "Exchange Select" Century Multi Tab 100 + 30 tabs $4.69 50% savings Performance and safety of "Exchange Select" products are assured thanks to a Quality Assurance team that actively visits suppliers' plants to verify 'Good Manufacturing Practices,' as set by the Food and Drug Administration and other governing agencies, are used. In fact, all "Exchange Select" over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, meet FDA established guidelines, which are the same for "private label" and national brand equivalent products. A steady demand for affordably priced, quality products by the military community continues to drive expansion of the "Exchange Select" brand, available exclusively at Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Exchanges, Veterans Canteen Service locations and the Eglin AFB BX. Last year, the exchanges introduced 37 new items including vitamins, cough drops and sunscreen. The entire portfolio now includes 557 unique items, all priced to deliver substantial savings. Name brand quality combined with "private label" pricing continues to attract military shoppers as "Exchange Select" sales increased by nearly a million dollars in 2007. As a result, the Exchange Services continue to broaden their "private label" assortment through line extensions in existing categories, such as health and beauty care items, household cleaning and laundry products and even a single-use cameras, as well as expansion into new programs. "Exchange Select" stock assortment additions currently in development include allergy medicine, nicotine gum, non-optical brightener detergent and orange furniture polish.