Shoppers at Belvoir's Commissary can begin ordering groceries online, for curbside pick-up service, beginning Sept. 30.

John Blythe, store director at Belvoir's commissary, said the Belvoir location was chosen for DeCA's new Click2Go service for many reasons. "We have a high amount of authorized shoppers within a 20-mile radius; and we have the adequate warehouse space and the capacity to absorb additional sales," he wrote. "We are also in a great, urban market area for this type of service, especially considering the travel challenges many face, going to and from work."

Blythe said he expects to have existing employees help facilitate customer service for the program, but will adjust manning to support the new initiative, if needed.

Click2Go has a $4.95 service fee per order. However, for the first month, Blythe said an introductory offer waives the fee. Also, there's no tipping needed, as store employees, and not its baggers, who work for tips, will process and deliver the online orders to shoppers' cars.

"This is another shopping alternative that we'll offer to authorized commissary shoppers, using an approach that is gaining popularity in the commercial sector, internet ordering with in-store or curb-side pickup," he said. "We want to capture customers who are not currently using the commissary; and increase the number of times current shoppers stop by. The system provides internet and mobile-device shopping alternatives to conventional, brick- and-mortar stores.

"We ultimately want to provide a service that helps them, build customer loyalty and do what we can to keep our customers for life," Blythe said.

Authorized commissary shoppers can shop from 4.5 hours to 6 days ahead of when they want to pick it up. The Click2Go hours will be weekdays, with pick-ups available from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Commissary patrons can buy a full assortment of grocery, dairy and frozen foods; and an assortment of fresh meat, produce and other selected items from commissary service departments, like deli, bakery and seafood.

"We are very excited to offer this new e-commerce service, which will provide patrons the ability to order from the comfort of their home, office or any location where they can access the internet," Blythe said.

To start the online shopping process, authorized commissary shoppers can go to commissaries.com and search Click2Go on the home page. Once at the site, shoppers create an account and make their selections, based on what's available at the store; choose a pickup time and pay at the curb.

Fort Belvoir is the third military commissary to add the service, after Fort Eustis and Naval Air Station Oceana, both in southern Virginia.