Poughkeepsie Stop & Shop To Host NY Best Bagger Finals

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — The New York state champion grocery bagger will be determined Saturday at the Poughkeepsie Stop & Shop. Sixteen contestants from eight grocery stores around the state, including Stop & Shop, D'Agostino Supermarket, Gristede's, Hannaford, Price Chopper, PSK Supermarket, ShopRite and Tops Market, will compete in the New York State Best Bagger Finals.

The competition will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Stop & Shop at 2540 South Road in Poughkeepsie.

Officials said the contestants will be judged on speed, distribution of weight between bags, proper bag building technique and style, attitude and appearance.

Contestants of any age are able to participate, but they must spend more than 40 percent of their time at work bagging groceries.

Saturday's winner will go on to represent the state at the National Championship as part of the National Grocers Association 2020 NGA Show in San Diego from Feb. 23 through Feb. 26. They will compete against other state champions, as well as baggers from the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

New York has never won a national championship, according to a spokeswoman.

The public is invited to observe the competition.

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