Kyle Perry of Martin's Super Markets in Osceola, Indiana is the winner of the 2010 Best Bagger National Championship. The contest hosted and emceed by Phil Lempert the N.G.A. SupermarketGuru and food editor for the NBC’s Today Show, was held February 11, 2010 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, at the 2010 N.G.A. Annual Convention and Supermarket Synergy Show.
The Best Bagger National Championship is a year-long, nationwide program in which the best-of-the-best grocery baggers in the country compete for great prizes and the title of America’s Best Bagger. Contestants are judged on speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, and style, attitude and appearance. As the winner, Perry takes home “bagging rights” as well as the $10,000 grand prize, the coveted “Golden Grocery Bag” trophy and the Pan-Oston “Best Bagger Golden Lane” for the organization.
This year’s winners are: Winner – Kyle Perry, Martin's Super Markets, Indiana First Runner Up –Danny Goodwin, J.H. Harvey Co., LLC, Georgia Second Runner Up – Andrew Hadlock, Maceys, Inc., Utah Third Runner Up – David Williams, K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. (Food City), Kentucky Fourth Runner Up – Arcola Pointer, D'Agostino Supermarkets, Inc., New York
The second place winner received a prize of $5,000 and 3rd – 5th places received a prize of $1,000 each. This year’s competition also made a change in the type of bags used within competition, switching from paper and plastic to reusable bags. This was in response to the increase in consumer popularity of reusable bags around the country.
Twenty three states were represented at this year’s Best Bagger National Championship; a group that N.G.A. Executive Vice President, Frank DiPasquale says was representative of the collective spirit and work ethic of the baggers across the country. “With this competition, we aim to celebrate the bagger and the independent retailer. Watching the baggers compete with such enthusiasm, year after year, continues to reaffirm their commitments to this industry,” said DiPasquale.
