The NAAFI (Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes) (pronounced 'NAFF-ee') is a non-profit retaining organization created by the British government in 1921 to run recreational establishments needed by the Armed Forces, and to sell goods to servicemen and their families. It runs clubs, bars, shops, supermarkets, launderettes, restaurants, cafés and other facilities on most British military bases and also canteens on board Royal Navy ships. Commissioned officers are not usually supposed to use the NAAFI clubs and bars, since their messes provide these facilities and their entry, except on official business, is considered to be an intrusion into junior ranks' private lives.
NAAFI personnel serving aboard ship are part of the Naval Canteen Service (NCS), wear naval uniform and have battle stations, but remain civilians. NAAFI personnel can also join the Expeditionary Forces Institute (EFI), which provides NAAFI facilities in war zones. EFI personnel are members of the Territorial Army serving on special engagements, bear ranks and wear uniform.
NAAFI, which has been feeding and entertaining the Armed Forces since 1921, yesterday lost a £400 million contract to supply food to the Ministry of Defence.
About 2,000 jobs at Naafi - 40 per cent of the workforce - will be lost after the food contract was awarded to a private company.
Naafi will continue to run bars, shops, canteens and leisure facilities at military bases in the United Kingdom and overseas.
NAAFI and LAST had been working together for approximately 2 years when the involvement of VKS was requested by their sister company, LAST.
NAAFI has expanded the services requested from this group dramatically in the past 8 months, and this has allowed them to decrease their own staff as well as external contractors.
NAAFI is committed to high standards of corporate governance and compiles to the 2003 Combined Code on Corporate Governance (July 2003).
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