Seattle Grocery Clerk Will Represent Washington At 'Best Bagger' Championship

SEATTLE, WA - A 17-year-old clerk from a Metropolitan Market store in the Magnolia neighborhood will represent Washington in the National Grocers' Association 2017 Best Baggers Championship in February.

Talia Randle began working at the Magnolia Met Market this summer as a clerk, according to the Seattle Times. But, perhaps unknown to shoppers, the Magnolia Met Market is home to one of best bagging-championship training programs in the U.S., led by manager Glen Hasstedt, according to the Times.

According to the Washington Food Industry Association, a Metropolitan Market employee has won the state championship four out of the last 10 years, including Randle's win this year. Last year, Met Market employee Candice Lastimado won the national championship; Met Market employee Andrew Borracchini won the nationals in 2013.

The state-level finals happened in October at the McGavick Conference Center in Lakewood. Randle beat out eight other competitors from grocery stores around the state. The national championship begins on Feb. 12 in Las Vegas. Randle will compete for a first-place prize of $10,000.

Image via Washington Food Industry Association