Camp Stanley in South Korea has received the L. Mendel Rivers Award for the Best Small Commissary Overseas, the Defense Commissary Agency has announced.

Runner-up for the award was the commissary at Camp Zama in Japan. Camp Carroll’s commissary in South Korea received honorable mention in the same category.

The awards were announced this week during DECA’s 2009 Conference and Training Event in Richmond, Va.

"When we acknowledge our best it sets a standard across the agency that raises the bar for all our stores," DECA director and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. said.

"These awards validate the excellence of our employees and industry partners as they deliver a world-class benefit to our most deserving customers."

DECA manages the grocery stores on all U.S. military installations worldwide.

In all, five stores received top honors.

The winning stores were evaluated on accountability, unit cost, a customer-service survey and sales. For example, in the area of unit cost, the store’s annual operating expenses must meet or come in below the average of previous years.