NAAFI CLOSURE
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I used to run the Mess shop at Akrotiri. NAAFI gave me about 7-5% discount which was inadequate to pay the girl in the shop.
After a visit to the Chamber of Commerce I stocked postcards, superb quality, £10/1000 good profit margin, toiletries from the Greek that supplied NAAFI at 40% discount, and at a lockup store shed loads of stuff.
Naturally NAAFI tried to shut us down.
After a visit to the Chamber of Commerce I stocked postcards, superb quality, £10/1000 good profit margin, toiletries from the Greek that supplied NAAFI at 40% discount, and at a lockup store shed loads of stuff.
Naturally NAAFI tried to shut us down.
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Originally Posted by brokenlink
Think that certainly over the last few years they have not had the buying power to get the good brands at anywhere near supermarket prices
In respect to a certain well known brand of pies that was sold in the NAAFI... They were made in a bacon factory in Totnes, my Father was the sales manager for the factory at the time.
NAAFI used to buy a whole production run in one hit (they could process a scary number of pigs in one day from walking to pie in the place). Anyway, the price paid wasnt what the factory sales tried for but what the NAAFI offered which was lower than low and then on a take it or leave it basis which considering the state of the pig industry in the UK at the time was better than nothing.
Sadly, said 'discount' was not passed on to the paying customer (us), if it had then we would have paid something along the lines of 2p / item rather than the rip off price that they did charge.
Funny how beer & fags always seemed to get the discounts in Germany though, something like keep the troops 'happy' or was it pissed....
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NAAFI Wagon???? There is but ONE mobile food outlet and thats 'Wolfgangs Blue Bratty Van' of Soltau fame...
Anyone Remember Wolfgangs Imbiss Vans on Soltau ???
Wolfgang of Soltau Schnellie wagon fame
Schnell Imbis
Bratwurst and Gyros vs. doner and burgers
Anyone Remember Wolfgangs Imbiss Vans on Soltau ???
Wolfgang of Soltau Schnellie wagon fame
Schnell Imbis
Bratwurst and Gyros vs. doner and burgers
.......cheaper to go to the local TE & S Cohen and sons.
.... My friend Ian says it would be better to ask for directions to the nearest TE S(TOCKWELL and) CO(HEN).
Jack
.... My friend Ian says it would be better to ask for directions to the nearest TE S(TOCKWELL and) CO(HEN).
Jack
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
New thread?
All the great deals and good times with NAAFI.
Digressing, anyone remember a Forces Discount service run, I think, by a retired Sqn Ldr out of Ammanaford? Used to use him in the 60s. Those days an expedition in to town was a rarity and a chore - remember the regular visits to messes by the insurers and military tailors? Who bought shoes and shirts in shops? Or even the Mess shop that would get things in - I got my portable car radio, it could be used in my room, through the Mess at Coningsby.
All the great deals and good times with NAAFI.
Digressing, anyone remember a Forces Discount service run, I think, by a retired Sqn Ldr out of Ammanaford? Used to use him in the 60s. Those days an expedition in to town was a rarity and a chore - remember the regular visits to messes by the insurers and military tailors? Who bought shoes and shirts in shops? Or even the Mess shop that would get things in - I got my portable car radio, it could be used in my room, through the Mess at Coningsby.
Gentleman Aviator
We all know what NAAFI stands for.
Many many years ago I was "pinged" to write an article on NAAFI (
) for the Station Magazine. I fear I grew horns and titled the piece: "Ambition and Interest", which somehow got through the senior officer censorship process and was duly published...... 
[A slightly cleaner version of the acronym was "Not Anywhere Around the Falkland Islands"]
[A slightly cleaner version of the acronym was "Not Anywhere Around the Falkland Islands"]
I appreciate that we are referring to very different circumstances, but perhaps with the notable exception of events such as these:
HMS Ardent medals from Falklands War hero up for auction | Daily Mail Online
A Can Man's View
Jack
I appreciate that we are referring to very different circumstances, but perhaps with the notable exception of events such as these:
HMS Ardent medals from Falklands War hero up for auction | Daily Mail Online
A Can Man's View
Jack
Many years ago on Basic Staff Course, a man from NAAFI HQ was scheduled to talk about NAAFI. On entering the lecture theatre, he was greeted by boos and hisses from the assembled throng. His opening remarks were that we should at least give him a chance to put his side, then he would take comments from us. First slide up was the NAAFI badge with latin motto. NAAFI man said "For those of you who don't speak latin I will translate - Never Give a Sucker an Even Break". We actually had a very good Q & A session after that.
Gentleman Aviator
Union Jack
I was of course aware - strictly EFI rather than NAAFI, but it was really just-post-'82 times I was referring to!
No offence intended to some very brave men.
I was of course aware - strictly EFI rather than NAAFI, but it was really just-post-'82 times I was referring to!
No offence intended to some very brave men.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
In many cases the NAAFI staff at the front step up to the plate; it was from higher up that it seemed the problems stemmed.
At ASI the NAAFI kiosk at the New air terminal was open 8-5. The terminal handled Pax from 19-06.
At ASI the NAAFI kiosk at the New air terminal was open 8-5. The terminal handled Pax from 19-06.
I was of course aware - strictly EFI rather than NAAFI, but it was really just-post-'82 times I was referring to!
No offence intended to some very brave men. - Teeters
Perfectly understood and agreed.
Jack
No offence intended to some very brave men. - Teeters
Perfectly understood and agreed.
Jack
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
I would guess NAAFI' s problem was the rapid shrinking of front-line(NAAFI front-line) services but fixed costs of HQ and logistics. Not just front-line but I think NAAFI provided food to Catering Sqn.
I remember NAAFI branded goods like tins of coffee beans were Good value. Still have some empty tins in my garage. Put them on Antiques Road Show if they don't sell on eBay.
I remember NAAFI branded goods like tins of coffee beans were Good value. Still have some empty tins in my garage. Put them on Antiques Road Show if they don't sell on eBay.
I remember the HQ Falklands Routine Orders for the 1st week in April 1984, it was full of announcements for things like the 'Round the Islands cruise by Coastel', the grand opening of the Stanley to RAF Stanley railway, the NAFFI increasing its beer prices by 6% etc. All were seen as being thoroughly good April fool jokes, unfortunately the NAFFI weren't joking.
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They should display a NAAFI roll next to Damien Hurst's Shark in Formaldehyde, I bet it would outlast it and have a greater sell by date.
It should be understood that the prime purpose of the NAAFI was to provide an alternative target to the Met man/woman.
As such, there was a continuing NAAFI/ Met tension, exemplified by the rumours concerning the contents of the NAAFI pies served from the back of the van at Leeming.
As such, there was a continuing NAAFI/ Met tension, exemplified by the rumours concerning the contents of the NAAFI pies served from the back of the van at Leeming.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Nah, Met Men were in a league of their own.
Like the SMetO at ISK in the 70s, would not black out his met office during Tacevals. Would insist on MT to drive to Ops for briefings and would not allow his staff to walk either.
Like the SMetO at ISK in the 70s, would not black out his met office during Tacevals. Would insist on MT to drive to Ops for briefings and would not allow his staff to walk either.
Originally Posted by NutLoose
They should display a NAAFI roll next to Damien Hurst's Shark in Formaldehyde, I bet it would outlast it and have a greater sell by date.
(to borrow some of that work's actual title)
exemplified by the rumours concerning the contents of the NAAFI pies served from the back of the van at Leeming.
Re BX/PX - one big advantage of the US system was that no matter where they were on the globe, US servicemen and women could spend US$ in all base shops and clubs. This avoided the annoying (and costly) exchange of cash into various currencies which we had to do before going "down the route".
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contents of the NAAFI pies served from the back of the van at Leeming.
Never came across another one during my 20 yrs. service.
The "coffee bars" in crew rooms at St Athan were pretty impressive businesses in the late 80s when I was on the Command Accounts inspection team - so impressive that several were large enough to fall within the turnover limit for VAT - then I recall between £20k and £25k