The CSD has grown from a turnover of Rs. 48 in 1948 to over Rs. 2.700 crore in 1998-99 - a growth of over 4500 times. Turnover per employee in 1998-99 was Rs. 122 lakhs

The CSD serves 16 million people - 5% of India's population which can afford consumer items and durables.

The CSD's profits are ploughed back into Welfare Schemes for Defence Personnel and their families.

The CSD has a very low ratio of operating expences to turnover - 1.30% - perhaps the lowest in any organization in the country.

With 33 Area Depots and 3400 Unit-Run-Canteens(URCs), the CSD serves the services in all the parts of the country - from Ladakh in the North, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the South, Nagaland in the East, Rajasthan in the West and even Port Blair.

The CSD maintains an inventory of 2800 items that cover a wide range, from shoe laces to cars.

The CSD has 'Bi-annual Sales cum-After-Sales Melas' at its Area Depots which includes items not in the CSD's inventory.

It caters not just to the services personnel and their families but also to GREF, NCC Units at Group HQ level, TA units, CDA's staff, Ordinance factories, Embarkation HQs, Civilians paid from Defence estimates and Para-military forces under operational/administrative control of the Army.

It is the only department in the Ministry of Defence where defence civilians are actually serving in forward and high altitude areas, shoulder to shoulder with the combatant personnel of the Armed Forces.