LAS VEGAS, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It's official:
Krystal Smith, 24, from Burlington, Vt., has been crowned the best
grocery bagger in America, winning the national Best Bagger
Championship presented by ConAgra Foods in Las Vegas. Crushing the Valentine's Day competition, not the bread, Smith
showed no love to her opponents in a nail-biting finish at this
year's national final, which featured state winners from across the
country.
(Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110214/CG48382)
Competitors faced off in a grocery-bagging showdown at The
Mirage and were rated on speed, bag-building technique, weight
distribution between bags, style, attitude and appearance.
Seizing the coveted "Golden Grocery Bag" trophy was only the
beginning for Smith, who also took home a $10,000 prize. The prize, for the second straight
year, was made possible by ConAgra Foods.
"It was nerve racking, but I practiced a lot and came prepared,"
Smith said. When asked how she'll spend her prize money, Smith said
"I'll save a little and spend a little, but I have to be honest: I
do plan to shop, shop, shop!"
Smith's winning time was 38 seconds. Jessica Lewis of
Washington followed closely behind,
claiming 2nd place and a $5,000
prize. Other top finishers included Andrew Hadlock of Utah, Matt Medley of
Minnesota and Roland Mattox of Georgia, who each took home $1,000 for their efforts.
This year's Best Bagger Championship drew from 21 states across
the country and marked the competition's 25-year anniversary.
N.G.A. President Peter Larkin
says this group epitomizes the dedication and work ethic of all
baggers across the country. "Each year, we hold this
competition to shine a light on the baggers and their unending
commitment to this industry. And year after year, from the
state level to this national stage, they continue to embody the
true values of the independent grocer," Larkin said.
N.G.A. is the national trade association representing the retail
and wholesale grocers that make up the independent sector of the
food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately
owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of
formats. Most independent operators are serviced by wholesale
distributors, while others may be partially or fully
self-distributing. Some are publicly traded but with controlling
shares held by the family and others are employee owned.
Independents are the true "entrepreneurs" of the grocery industry
and dedicated to their customers, associates, and communities.
N.G.A. members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers
associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For
more information about N.G.A. and the independent sector of the
industry, see the N.G.A. website: www.NationalGrocers.org.
ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America's leading food companies, with
brands in 97 percent of America's households. Consumers find
Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Egg Beaters, Healthy Choice, Hebrew
National, Hunt's, Marie Callender's,
Orville Redenbacher's, PAM, Peter
Pan, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, Snack Pack and many other ConAgra
Foods brands in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise and club
stores. ConAgra Foods also has a strong business-to-business
presence, supplying frozen potato and sweet potato products as well
as other vegetable, spice and grain products to a variety of
well-known restaurants, foodservice operators and commercial
customers. For more information, please visit us at
www.conagrafoods.com.
SOURCE ConAgra Foods, Inc.