In March 1920 Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War, set up a committee to advise on the kind of canteen organisation which would be needed for the Armed Forces in the future.

The findings were unanimous; there should be one organisation to serve all three services. It should be permanent so that it could rapidly expand or contract at times of war or peace. Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes was therefore established on 6th December 1920 and started trading as NAAFI in 1921.

As a non profit making organisation, with no shareholders to reward, NAAFI was asked to provide catering, retail and leisure wherever needed, around the world.

90 years on, we’re still dedicated to Serving the Services.

NAAFI’s Patron is HM The Queen.