Tax reform, estate tax, sales tax, & other tax-related issues.
Employee/employer relations, National Labor Relations Board, Department of Labor.
Affordable Care Act
SNAP, WIC, food safety & more.
Nutrition labeling, Country of Origin labeling, Meat Department labeling.
Resources on coupons, food recalls, PCI/Data Security & more.
*Find out more about NGA’s: Grocers PAC Campaign to Preserve Competition, Consumer Choice, and a Democratic Workplace *Get Involved with NGA’s Grassroots Advocacy Efforts Take Action on Important Industry Issues
Original research, consumer trends, and benchmarking reports related to the independent grocer.
Providing online learning resources for independent grocers with more than 85 industry-specific online courses.
Keeping you up-to-date on important industry topics.
Providing the opportunity for targeted groups to problem solve, idea swap, and help non-competing industry partners.
Serving the industry through sharing information, education, and research to NGA members and the industry.
Advancing a collaborative agenda of industry focused academics and research.
NGA provides the latest education and research to help independent retailers increase profits and grow their operations. Here members will find the information and resources needed to make timely and accurate business decisions in today’s marketplace.
In 1987 the first National Grocers Association (NGA) Best Bagger Contest was held in Dallas, Texas. Our first bagging contest was called the "Texas/Oklahoma Checkout-Shootout". We had two contestants and our Master of Ceremonies was Terry Bradshaw (former NFL Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers). Since then NGA has been bringing the country's finest baggers together to determine who is the best of the best. NGA's Best Bagger Championship was created to promote the grocery industry devotion to exceptional customer service through superior bagging.
In 1983, the American Paper Institute sponsored its first annual bag-packing contest, with the winner receiving the coveted Charles Stillwell award plus $1,883. The amount is in honor of the year that Charles Stillwell invented the paper-bag machine. With the contest being central to the Grocery Industry, NGA took over as sponsor of the Best Bagger contest in 1987 and has run with the idea ever since.
Would you like more information about holding your own Best Bagging Contest? Please contact Aileen Munster on our NGA staff by email or 703-516-0700.
MC Terry Bradshaw interviews, for the television cameras, the winner of NGA's first bagging contest held in 1987 at the NGA Annual Convention in Dallas, Texas. The runner-up was Jan Thommason from Claremont Discount in Oklahoma (at right), and the winner was Jorge Baca, from Fiesta Mart in Texas.
1994 Bagging Contestants.
2001 Bagging Contestants.
NGA’s Bagger Championship
Hall of Fame
1987
Jorge Baca
Fiesta Mart No. 4
Texas
Jan Thommason
Claremont Discount Foods
Oklahoma
1988
Kelly Larrabee
Raley’s Supermarket
California
1989
Caren Callaghan
Olsen’s Food Store
Washington
1990
Mark Cutshall
Baker’s IGA
Ohio
1991
Keith Palch
Hartville IGA
1992
Indiana
1993
Bob Dropinski
Baker’s Supermarket
Nebraska
1994
Jeff Stearns
Fareway Stores, Inc.
Iowa
1995
Louisiana
1996
Mike Dahm
1997
Allen Weimerskirch
1998
Frank Urbanic
Finast #828 / Tops Markets
1999
Gwenn Honda
Ralph’s Grocery Company
2000
Mike Mechura
2001
Micah Crapo
Smith’s Food & Drug Stores
Utah
2002
Dawn Marshall
Pathmark Stores
Pennsylvania
2003
Darcie Berndt
Martin’s Super Markets
2004
Tina Tasso
The Kroger Co.
Georgia
2005
Emily Jensen
Macey’s
2006
Jason Zitko
Dierbergs Central Office
Missouri
2007
Brian Bay
2008
Erika Jensen
2009
Francisco Palacios
Fry’s Food and Drug Stores
Arizona
2010
Kyle Perry
2011
Krystal Smith
Hannaford Supermarkets
Vermont
2012
Stephanie Teteak
Larry’s Piggly Wiggly
Wisconsin
2013
Andrew Borracchini
Metropolitan Market at Admiral
If you have questions, please contact Aileen Munster at 703-516-0700.