The 2017 Best Bagger Contest was held at Giant Eagle Market District, Kingsdale Center, on August 8, 2017. OGA had 21 participants competing for the 2017 Ohio title. Five baggers were in the final heat together competing for the first, second and third places. Third place winner was Joshua Keeting from The Kroger Co., winning $100. Coming in second place and first runner up was Zeb Cotrill from The Kroger Co., winning $200. First place was Ellissa Chambliss from Buehler’s winning the 2017 Ohio’s Best Bagger title, $1,000 and a spot to compete in the 2018 National Grocers Best Bagger Contest in Las Vegas. Ellissa’s win marks the third year in a row for Buehler’s to hold the Ohio Best Bagger Winner! Congratulations to all of the winners and thank you to all of the contestants. A big that you to the host, Giant Eagle Market District Kingsdale, and to the sponsors of this event, Pepsi and Joshen Paper & Packaging!
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Ohio won the 2017 NGA’s Best Bagger Competition in Las Vegas
At the 2017 NGA Show in Las Vegas, Brady Long, of Buehler’s Fresh Foods, defeated 22 other Best Bagger competitors from across the nation. Brady claimed the grand prize of $10,000 and the title of the NGA Best Bagger Champion. NGA has held the nationwide best bagger competition since 1987. The contestants are judged by the speed of bagging, proper bag-building technique, weight distribution in the bag, as well as style, attitude and appearance, and are chosen through statewide competitions over the course of the last year. OGA President, Kristin Mullins, was at the NGA Show and Best Bagger competition to support and later congratulate Brady on his win, “Brady not only represented Buehler’s well, but the entire state of Ohio. It’s been a long time since Ohio has won the national title and we couldn’t be more proud of Brady’s accomplishment.” Brady was on the Today Show Saturday, February 18, 2017.
