Dylan Mackenthun of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods in Waconia won the Minnesota Grocers Association‘s 38th annual statewide Best Bagger Contest, held Oct. 17 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, earning $600, a trophy and a trip to Las Vegas to represent Minnesota at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship in February.
Twelve contestants from throughout the state were judged on speed, style, attitude, proper bag-building technique and weight distribution between bags, competing with reusable bags.
Jazmine Rosa of Lunds & Byerlys in St. Cloud took second place, and Izak Johnson of Kowalski’s Market in Edina finished third, each earning a trophy and cash prize.
Mackenthun doubled up, also claiming the Speed award for bagging his two reusable bags in 48.54 seconds, while his Mackenthun’s Fine Foods teammate Ethan Olson won the Balance award with just 0.03 ounces of difference between his two bags.
Dylan Mackenthun is the son of Jaime Mackenthun, a member of the company’s fifth generation of ownership. The grocer was founded in 1917.
The contest showcases the talents of the employees responsible for customers’ last experience in the store, the association said, exemplifying the industry’s dedication to customer service. The full field of contestants represented Kowalski’s Market, Lunds & Byerlys, Chris’ Food Center, Coborn’s, Mackenthun’s Fine Foods and Fareway Meat & Grocery locations statewide.
The Minnesota Grocers Association, celebrating more than 125 years of service, represents the state’s food industry from farm to fork, with more than 300 retail, manufacturing and wholesale members supporting nearly 1,300 locations and employing more than 150,000 Minnesotans.
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