The state’s top grocery baggers will showcase their bagging expertise during the 28th Annual Pennsylvania’s Best Bagger Championship on Thursday, October 22 at Strawberry Square, 11 North Third Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m.
The competition, hosted by the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA), brings together the state’s best grocery baggers for an action-packed bag-off measuring their speed, proper bag building technique, weight distribution, style, attitude and professional appearance.
“We are pleased to recognize the important role of baggers in grocery stores,” said David McCorkle, PFMA president. “They make a lasting impression on our customers and provide tremendous customer service.”
The 14 contestants represent Bracy’s ShopRites, Covington Township and Mt. Pocono, Pa; Boyer’s Food Markets, Orwigsburg, Pa.; Giant Eagle, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Henning’s Markets, Harleysville, Pa.; McMenamin Family ShopRites, Philadelphia, Pa. and Pittsburgh St. Shop ‘N Save, Greensburg, PA.
News anchor Alicia Richards, WHTM-TV ABC 27 in Harrisburg, returns to emcee the contest, interview the contestants to find out their strategies for winning and learn about their experiences in the stores. In honor of her participation, PFMA will donate $500 to her charity of choice -— Gaudenzia, which operates alcohol and drug treatment programs.
The baggers have competed in preliminary store and company-level bagging contests to enter the state championship or were selected by their manager as a top bagger. They will compete in a timed race — bagging in reusable shopping bags. Mary Bach, a nationally recognized consumer advocate, leads the judging and provides the rules to the contestants. Mark Platts, a teacher at Dauphin County Technical School, will join her at the judge’s table.
The 2015 Pennsylvania’s Best Bagger Champion will receive a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the national competition on February 29, 2016, $250 and a championship trophy.
Special thanks to our sponsor The Shops at Strawberry Square and Penn Jersey Paper Company, our reusable bag sponsor. Thanks also go to Karns Quality Foods for loaning the shopping carts and to Central PA Scale and Equipment for loaning the scales for the contest.
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, based in Camp Hill, is a statewide trade association advocating the views of more than 700 retail food stores, wholesale distributors and other associated business members throughout Pennsylvania. PFMA members operate more than 3,200 stores and employ more than 100,000 Pennsylvanians. For more information on PFMA, visit www.pfma.org.
