Metropolitan’s Best Bagger Out-bags His Member of Congress

The National Grocers Association (NGA) held its second annual National Best Bagger Congressional Competition yesterday on Capitol Hill, during which the 2013 Best Bagging Champion, Andrew Borracchini of Metropolitan Market at Admiral in Seattle, Wash., competed against his Member of Congress, Representative Jim McDermott (WA-7).

Borracchini, who won the title in February at the 2013 NGA Show in Las Vegas, kept his title as the National Best Bagger with a time of 39 seconds.

"NGA members -- independently owned retail supermarkets and the wholesalers that supply them -- serve their communities through great service and understanding their customers," said Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO, NGA. "Great grocery bagging is one example of exemplary customer service that sets our members' stores apart from the competition. We appreciate Congressman McDermott's great sportsmanship against a great bagger like Andrew."

The 2013 Best Bagger Contest was the competition's 27th year held at the NGA Show, where local champions travel to Las Vegas to compete in the national competition. Contestants compete not just on speed, but on accuracy and the quality of their bagging including factors such as weight distribution and item consideration. The 2013 Contest was made possible through the support of ConAgra, Pringles, Bunzl and Pan-Oston. The 2014 Best Bagger Competition title sponsor is PepsiCo with additional support from Pan-Oston.

The National Grocers Association is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry.