Sullivan’s holds contest to find best grocery bagger

Sullivan’s Foods sponsors an annual Best Bagger Contest at each Sullivan’s Foods location.

The winner of each store then progresses to Sullivan’s Foods Regional Best Bagger Contest. The winner of the Regional Best Bagger contest will then compete at the state level during the Illinois Food Retailers Convention in Chicago on Sept. 27.

Stephen Benson of Sullivan’s Foods in Stockton was the 2018 regional champion. This was the third year that Benson has participated, taking second place the two previous years to Heidi Jacobson of Sullivan’s Foods in Marengo.

Last year, Jacobson won first place at the state level and competed at the National Grocers Association Competition in Las Vegas, Nev. Benson, who has spent many hours practicing, is hoping to advance to the national competition as well, which will be held in San Diego in February 2019.

Second-place winner at Sullivan’s Foods Regional Best Bagger Competition was Cynthia Silva from the Marengo store, and third place was Kim Krogull from the Lena store.

The bagging competition scoring is rated on speed, weight distribution, bagging techniques, and the attitude and presentation of the bagger.

Regional bet bagger contestants were Mayra Ulloa of Mendota, Mikayla Frampton of Kewanee, Kim Krogull of Lena, Cynthia Silva of Marengo, Ashley Stingley of Savanna, Keith Varland of Princeton, Josh Helberg of Winnebago, and Stephen Benson of Stockton.