Vermont’s best bagger, Bethany Berger from Shaw’s Supermarket in Colchester, finished in 2nd place at the National Best Bagger Competition in Las Vegas. The February 29, 2016 event, hosted by the National Grocers Association, brought together baggers from across the Country to compete for the title of the 2016 National Best Bagger.
“On behalf of Shaw’s executive team and employees, I congratulate Bethany on the outstanding job she did at the National Best Bagger Competition. She worked hard to prepare for the contest and from the beginning she demonstrated that she is not only Shaw’s or Vermont’s Best Bagger, but one of the best in the Country. We are extremely proud to have her on our Shaw’s Team,” said Shaw’s Supermarkets President, Jim Rice.
The National Grocers Association has been conducting the Annual Bagging Competition since 1987. Over two dozen baggers, from across the United States, competed for the title of the National Bagging Champion.
In October, the Vermont Retail and Grocers Association held the annual Vermont Best Bagger Championship at University Mall in South Burlington. Top baggers were judged on their speed, the distribution of weight between bags, their bag building technique style, attitude, and appearance. Bethany, a student at University of Vermontand who has been working at Shaw’s for four years, beat out the competition and won the coveted title.
“We are incredibly proud to see Bethany finish second in the National Best Bagger Competition, said Erin Sigrist, Vice President of Vermont Retail & Grocers Association. It is great to see our local, Vermont contestant do so well against other State Bagging Champions from retailers from across the Nation.”
The Vermont Retail and Grocers Association represents approximately 800 retail stores and 250 suppliers to the industry, including members of the Vermont Specialty Food Association. Current members include clothing stores, sports stores, supermarkets, food co-ops, beverage stores, convenience stores, and general and country stores, as well as many other merchants. Associate members include manufacturers, wholesalers, brokers, and service providers. Shaw’s and Star Market are working to become the favorite local supermarket in every state it operates. Shaw’s is one of the oldest continuously operated supermarkets in the United States with its roots dating to 1860. Throughout five New England states, there are 154 store locations employing approximately 19,000 employees.