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November 9th 2017 | Written By Press Release | Share

Gerald R. Ford International Airport & SpartanNash Open Military Welcome Center

Gerald R. Ford International Airport & SpartanNash Open Military Welcome Center

Grand Rapids, MI – The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) welcomes thousands of military members and veterans each year, and now there is a special place at the airport for them to call their own. GFIA and SpartanNash officials opened the Military Welcome Center today with a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house. The private space is located pre-security near the Concourse A exit, and is open for active military, veterans, and their families.

“We are proud to offer a quiet space dedicated for our military where they can relax, refresh, and find some comfort before traveling to wherever their next mission or duty station calls,” said GFIA President & CEO Jim Gill. “We are thankful to have a partner like SpartanNash that not only accommodates our military in numerous supporting roles, but a company that understands the need for this welcome center in West Michigan.”

As the leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries, SpartanNash was a natural fit to present the space and continue its legacy of supporting current and veteran members of the Armed Forces. SpartanNash is a grocery retailer and food distributor headquartered in West Michigan, serving customers in Michigan and throughout the Midwest for more than 100 years.

SpartanNash is also a veteran-friendly employer, with nearly 800 veterans working for the company – in addition to many associates with military affiliation.

“At SpartanNash, we are deeply committed to serving our military heroes and their families, both at home and abroad,” said Dave Staples, SpartanNash President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are honored to present the Military Welcome Center, because it allows us to be a part of the journey of those who served and continue to serve.”

The Military Welcome Center is open to military members, veterans, and their families 24 hours a day. The center offers refreshments, charging stations, an airport arrival/departure monitor, and lounging spaces, as well as veteran profiles and programming offered by WGVU and PBS. There are also interactive maps and murals where military personnel and veterans can pinpoint where they have been stationed or deployed. The new space is a part of the airport’s overall Gateway Transformation Project.

About GFIA

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) is the second busiest airport in Michigan. The airport served over 2.6 million passengers in 2016 and over 7,000 travelers pass through GFIA each day. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport offers nonstop service to 24 major market destinations with more than 120 daily nonstop flights. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. GFIA generates over $3.1 billion in annual economic output throughout West Michigan, and employs over 1,500 people. For more information on GFIA visit: www.grr.org or follow the airport on Twitter: @FlyGRFord

About SpartanNash

SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a Fortune 400 company whose core businesses include distributing grocery products to independent grocery retailers, national accounts, its corporate-owned retail stores and U.S. military commissaries. SpartanNash serves customer locations in 47 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahrain and Egypt. SpartanNash currently operates 145 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of Family Fare Supermarkets, VG’s Food and Pharmacy, D&W Fresh Market, SunMart and Family Fresh Market. Through its MDV military division, SpartanNash is the leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries.

Topics: Press Release, Construction