Speed, grace, technique and attitude are attributes that one normally associates with world-class athletes and not necessarily cashiers at the front of the grocery line. But 11 contestants from New Jersey grocery stores set out last Tuesday out to prove that style, grace and ability are words that can be analogous with the art of bagging.
More than 25 spectators flocked to the North Bergen Shop-Rite at the Columbia Park mall Tuesday for the 2000 version of the “Best Bagger” contest that pitted winners from Shop-Rites across New Jersey against each other. The event, now in its 13th year, has been held at different stores throughout the state.
The contestants competed in heats and raced against the clock to see who was the best. They were given merchandise that approximated a typical supermarket purchase. The judges evaluated the contestants based on the National Grocers Association’s criteria of speed, proper bag-building technique, distribution of weight between bags, style, attitude, and appearance.
“There are a lot of things that the judges have to look at,” said Judge Lisa Vanlvance, a representative of the Wakefren Food Corporation, a company that aids Shoprite in training and distribution. “While speed in an event like this is important, it is not all that the customer wants. The bagger must be neatly dressed and have a good attitude. That is what the guest wants most, and that is what we are really judging.”
Wakefern representatives said that each year, several stores want to host the event. This year, North Bergen was victorious.
“Every year I have managers come up to me who want to have the contest at their store,” said Lydia Mattson, a representative of Wakefern and one of the organizers of this year’s event. “This is a real chance to showcase their stores and their community. The host store has opportunity to show people that come from other Shop-Rite stores that they are doing things right and that their store is one of the best. It is especially important to the North Bergen store because they are still in their first year and hosting an event like this tells everyone that they are up and going.”
Came from all over
Contestants came to North Bergen from Nutley, Little Falls, West Caldwell, Bloomfield and Byram. Not only were they representing their individual stores and community; they battled for prizes and pride. The winner was to take home a 19-inch color TV and all-expense paid trip to Dallas, where she or he would represent the state at the national “Best Bagger” competition at the Dallas Convention Center in January.
As it turned out, Thomas Mora of the Byram Shop-Rite was the big winner that afternoon. He edged out Joanne Cortex of the Manchester store by only one point to claim the prize.
“I am very happy with the win, and I am so excited that I get to go to Dallas,” said Mora. “I did not think that I had much of a chance to win. I just tried to do my best and this time I came up on top.”
Cortez, who came in second, said, “I really didn’t feel any pressure. I do this every day. I feel like I am good at it because I talk to my guests. I make it fun. To be good at this you must be courteous, nice and fast.”
“Being a good bagger is all about meeting customers’ needs,” said third-place winner Allison Boone of the Clifton store, who took home a new CD player for her troubles. “I’m just happy that I could participate. It has been lots of fun.”
No one walked away a loser, as everyone who participated received a watch and a T-shirt.