WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Military shoppers in search of the best value for their dollar are increasingly reaching for "private label" products manufactured under the exchange services' "Exchange Select" brand. 

The steady demand for affordably priced, quality products by the military community continues to drive expansion of the "Exchange Select," available exclusively at Navy, Marine and Coast Guard exchanges, Veterans Canteen Service locations and Army and Air Force Exchange Service BXs and PXs. 

"We introduced 67 new 'Exchange Select' items in 2006 including value pack diapers and baby wipes, whitening pre-brush oral rinse and smoking cessation gum," said Becky Stover, Whiteman BX store manager. "The entire portfolio now includes 557 unique items, all priced to deliver substantial savings." 

Whether shopping for health and beauty care items, household cleaning and laundry products or even a single-use camera, "Exchange Select" products offer quality that is equal to or better than equivalent national brands at an average savings of 50 percent. 

"Our Quality Assurance team actively ensures the quality of 'Exchange Select' merchandise by visiting suppliers' plants to verify 'good manufacturing practices,' as set by the Food and Drug Administration as well as other governing agencies, are used," Stover said. "In fact, all over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, meet FDA established guidelines, which are the same for 'Exchange Select' and national brand equivalent products." 

Name brand quality combined with "private label" pricing continues to attract military shoppers as "Exchange Select" sales have increased 30 percent since the brand was first introduced in the summer of 2002. As a result, the Exchange Services continue to broaden their private label assortment through line extensions in existing categories and expansion into new programs. 

"Exchange Select" stock assortment additions currently in development include oatmeal based baby toiletries, women's premium triple-blade disposable razors, sugar-free cough drops, plastic applicator tampons and "custom-size-it" paper towels.