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Chris’ Food Center Bagger Is Minnesota’s Best

Seth Allen of Chris’ Food Center in Sandstone, Minnesota, front row second from right, is Minnesota's best grocery bagger. He is pictured with the competition's other finalists.
Seth Allen of Chris’ Food Center in Sandstone, Minnesota, front row second from right, is Minnesota's best grocery bagger. He is pictured with the competition's other finalists.

Seth Allen of Chris’ Food Center in Sandstone, Minnesota, is the state’s best grocery bagger. He bested the competition during the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) 28th annual statewide Best Bagger Contest, held earlier this month at the Mall of America. Allen won $500 cash, a trophy and a trip to Las Vegas next year to represent Minnesota at the National Grocers Association’s best bagger championship.

Brandon Paulson of Teal’s Market in Milaca and Norman Statz of Lunds & Byerlys in St. Cloud placed second and third, respectively, in the Minnesota competition.

MGA says the contest is important to its membership because it is a fun, fast-paced and entertaining competition but, most importantly, it showcases the talents of one of the industry’s key employees. Baggers are the people responsible for the last experience customers have in a store, and the contest’s focus on these top baggers truly exemplifies the food industry’s dedication to customer service, according to MGA.

The 10 participating contestants were judged on speed, style, attitude, proper bag-building technique and weight distribution between the bags. Contest attendees witnessed the art of “bagging” by some of Minnesota’s best. To showcase the food industry’s commitment to consumer choice and the well-being of the communities grocers serve, baggers used the ever-popular reusable bags.

In addition to Chris’ Food Center, Teal’s Market and Lunds & Byerlys, the following companies were represented in the MGA contest: Almsted’s Fresh Market in Crystal, Coborn’s in Clearwater, Fareway Stores in Stewartville, Glen’s Food Center in Luverne, Jubilee Foods in Mound, Kowalski’s Market in White Bear Lake and Mackenthun’s Fine Foods in Waconia.

Four of the 10 baggers also were given Bagger Excellence Awards. The “Traveler” Award was given to Jarod Berndt of Glen’s Food Center in Luverne for coming the longest distance. The “Balance” Award was captured by Tyler Haselkamp of Coborn’s in Clearwater, whose two bags had .97 pounds difference between them. Tyler Haselkamp of Coborn’s in Clearwater took home the “Spirit” Award, with his many friends, family and fans. Finally, the “Style” Award was presented to Cole Sik of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods in Waconia, who best exemplified the image and style of the baggers in the contest.

 

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Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Chicago, Illinois
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