Packaging
A Super(Market) Showdown: Top Grocery Baggers to Compete for National Title at 2011 Best Bagger Championship Presented by ConAgra Foods
Tuesday 08. February 2011 - A championship atmosphere. A cheering crowd. Dreams of competing for the top title. It's not a football game, it's the Best Bagger Championship.
The nation’s top grocery store baggers are heading to Las VegasFeb. 14 to compete in the 2011 National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) Best Bagger Championship presented by ConAgra Foods. The competition will be held at The Mirage as part of the N.G.A.’s annual conference. The showdown begins at 3 p.m. PST.
The final competitors, who beat out hundreds of other baggers from their respective states, will be rated on speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, style, attitude and appearance. A combination of jars, cans, boxes and loaves of bread will pose the challenge for each contestant as he or she races against the clock to bag the items the best way possible. After positive feedback following last year’s event, eco-friendly, reusable bags will be used for the second year in a row.
For the second straight year, the involvement of ConAgra Foods means a generous prize pool for the winners. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000, the second place contestant will earn $5,000 and the third through fifth place winners will net $1,000 each.
“These competitors are hard-working, young professionals from locally owned grocery stores in each state,” said Doug Knudsen, president of Sales, ConAgra Foods. “They are great examples of how many grocery stores are committed to customer service and this competition is a fun way to recognize and reward these baggers for their accomplishments.”
Twenty-one states are sending their top performers to vie for the title of the nation’s best bagger. The 2011 N.G.A. Best Bagger Championship presented by ConAgra Foods competitors are:
Alabama: Thang Nguyen, Publix Super Markets, Inc.
California: Cody Calhoun, Nugget Market, Inc.
Georgia: Roland Mattox, Quality Foods of Commerce, Inc.
Indiana: Dave Smith, Martin’s Super Markets
Iowa: Jeremy Mescher, Fareway Stores, Inc.
Kentucky: Brice Harris, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. (Food City)
Massachusetts: Bryan Cramond, Stop and Shop
Michigan: Mina Eskander, Martin’s Super Markets
Minnesota: Matt Medley, Lunds Food Holding, Inc.
Missouri: Scott Hall, RPCS (Price Cutter)
New Jersey: James Wilmott, Shop Rite of Hunterdon County
New York: Constance Gaines, D’Agostino Supermarket
Ohio: Tom Bergman, Dorothy Lane Market
Pennsylvania: Kayla Wilson Giant Food Stores, LLC
Rhode Island: Bonny Pride Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc.
Tennessee: Colby Morgan Kroger
Utah: Andrew Hadlock, Macey’s, Inc.
Vermont: Krystal Smith, Hannaford Supermarket
Virginia: Dylan Belcher, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. (Food City)
Washington: Jessica Lewis, Yoke’s Fresh Market
Wisconsin: Stephanie Teteak, Larry’s Piggly Wiggly