As BFG has recently received the latest quarterly welfare return of €213,000 from NAAFI, it seems an ideal opportunity to clarify some of the misconceptions regarding NAAFI & PAYD. 

All profit generated by NAAFI is reinvested back in to the Armed Forces & their families.  This is done through refurbishing facilities, supporting outlets & services that are of benefit to the community but not always commercially viable.  NAAFI is unique in the sense that it is a company limited by guarantee, with its sole shareholder being the Armed Forces.

To date, the welfare return received is nearly €1 million which has gone back to garrisons in BFG.  This return is calculated for each garrison based on running costs & profit generated locally.  In essence, the more you spend with NAAFI, the more your garrison receives back in welfare return. 

A comment often made is ‘NAAFI have a monopoly in BFG’.  Actually, the MOD have chosen NAAFI as the ‘Partner of Choice’  to run the Catering service, Retail shops and Leisure (CRL) facilities in BFG.  Not only do they have the commercial experience and acumen but as part of our community, they have a good level of understanding of what Service personnel and their families actually want.  NAAFI are also the largest employer of dependants & young people in BFG.

They are keen to receive feedback and act on it in order to improve the level of service provided to the BFG-based community which is where you, as the consumer, can and should make your views known on the service that is provided along with any suggested improvements. 

Also, pricing in NAAFI Retail shops is frequently criticised. On most items, the cost at NAAFI is comparable with similar German or British convenience retailers and, in some cases, cheaper. 

NAAFI’s aim is to provide British ‘convenience’; bringing goods that are uniquely British that remind us of home.  It is not NAAFI’s intention to replicate what is available in the local market.

Many of you may not be aware that all goods sold at NAAFI outlets are tax-free, this includes groceries and consumables.  The Federal German Authorities require BFG to operate adequate checks in order to ensure that this tax-free concession is maintained and not misused by non-entitled persons.  This has proved frustrating for entitled personnel & NAAFI however, HQ UKSC have been working closely with NAAFI and Customs & Immigration to determine the appropriate level of safeguarding whilst keeping it relatively simple.  We are therefore pleased to announce that as from early April 2009, NAAFI moved to periodic ID card checks with entitled personnel only required to show their ID card & shopping permit when purchasing rationed items.