Audrey Blair of Essex has won the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association (VRGA) Best Bagging Competition, earning the title of “2014 Vermont Best Bagger.” The bagging competition is much more than stuffing foodstuffs into bags. Three judges rate contestants on four criteria: Speed Time, Distribution of Weight Between Bags, Proper Bag Building Technique, and Style, Attitude, and Appearance.
To take first place honors, Blair, age 24, came out on top of a tough group of nine experienced and determined contestants. Blair, a graduate of Mt. Anthony Union High School, has bagged for Price Chopper Essex for four years. “I’m just blown away,” she said. “It feels unreal. I’ve never been to Las Vegas. It’s so exciting I can hardly believe it.” Blair, who is saving money to buy a house, counts spending time with family and outdoors as among her favorite things to do outside of work.
The competition took place during the 2014 VRGA Convention & Expo at the Miller Expo Centre at the Champlain Valley Exposition. “This annual event is a lot of fun for all concerned,” noted VRGA President Jim Harrison. “In addition, it focuses attention on the importance of the grocers’ and retailers’ work force, which together employs more people than any business sector other than health care in our state.”
Judges for this year’s event were Representative Paul Ralston, Representative Heidi Scheuermann and Mike Cys, Vice President, National Retail Federation.
The Vermont Retail & Grocers Association represents approximately 800 Vermont retail stores and 250 suppliers to the industry, including members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association. VRGA is an association of merchants and trade partners united to promote the sustainable growth of the industry through the Educational, Economic and Public Policy needs of members.