Gabe Bowling, courtesy clerk at the Food City in Louisa, Kentucky, recently won the Kentucky Best Bagger competition, receiving a $250 cash prize along with an all-expenses paid trip in February to Las Vegas, where he will compete for the national title during The NGA Show.
An 18-year-old senior at Lawerence County High School, Bowling joined the Food City team in June. He was one of 13 contestants in the contest, which took place during October in Hazard, Kentucky.
“NGA hosts a premier event featuring only the most talented baggers throughout the country,” said Steven C. Smith, Food City president and CEO. “It’s a tremendous honor to qualify as a participant.”
Gordon Trivette, Food City district manager, added that the grocer was “extremely proud to be represented by such an outstanding, talented young individual. Gabe is an asset to our company and our region.”
Each year, the National Grocers Association hosts its annual Best Bagger Competition during the convention. Baggers from across the nation are judged on speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, style, attitude and appearance.
“Bagging has been an important step for many supermarket employees who have pursued long and rewarding careers in the grocery industry,” the association shared.
The first Best Bagger Championship was held in 1987 in Dallas. The “Texas-Oklahoma Checkout Shootout” featured two contestants and former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw as emcee. Since then, NGA has branded and grown the event to feature baggers from more than 25 states.
Headquartered in Abingdon, Virginia, K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City’s parent company) operates 164 retail outlets throughout southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, East Tennessee, North Georgia and Alabama.
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