Last updated on June 13th, 2024
The Minnesota Grocers Association held its 33rd annual statewide Best Bagger Contest on Aug. 14 at the MGA office in St. Paul, Minnesota. Contestants came from across the state to compete for the title of Minnesota’s Best Bagger.
This is a fun, fast-paced and entertaining contest that is important to the MGA and its membership as 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 this contest truly exemplifies the food industry’s dedication to customer service.
The six 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. Baggers used reusable bags.
The first-place winner in the competition was Justin Marshall of Kowalski’s Market in Minneapolis, winning $500 cash, a trophy and a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, to represent Minnesota at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship in February 2022. In second place, receiving a trophy and cash prize, was Dylan Crawford of Lunds & Byerlys in Minnetonka.
MGA expressed its thanks to all of the 2021 Best Bagger contestants for their efforts: Emily Dauw from Coborn’s in Sartell, Danny Dressler from Mackenthun’s Fine Foods in Waconia, Justin Geertsema from Hy-Vee in Lakeville and Tyler Thorvig from Chris’ Food Center in Sandstone.
Three of the nine baggers were also given Bagger Excellence Awards and a cash prize. The “Traveler” award was granted to Tyler Thorvig of Chris’ Food Center in Sandstone, for traveling the longest distance to the contest, nearly 90 miles. The “Balance” award was captured by Danny Dressler of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods in Waconia, whose two bags had only .10 pound difference between them. Finally, the “Speed” award was awarded to Justin Marshall, who bagged his two reusable bags in 53.03 seconds.
The Best Bagger Contest was held in conjunction with the Bipartisan Bag-Off, which featured a representative from each of the four legislative caucuses and a member of the Governor’s Administration. All legislative participants received $500 to donate to a food charity of their choice, with the winner receiving $1,000.
