For the first time in Nugget Markets history, one of our amazing associates has claimed the title of Best Bagger in the Nation—let’s hear it for Alexa S. from our West Sacramento store! Just this week, Alexa won 1st place in the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Championship in Las Vegas. Not only did she take home the grand prize of $10,000, she also earned ultimate b(r)agging rights as the first ever Nugget Markets associate to win nationals!

Even though she makes it look easy, Alexa trained hard to earn her title as the country’s best bagger. She’s been practicing since she started at Nugget Markets in 2018, which helped her claim her spot as top bagger at her store and our company two years later. That victory led her to compete at nationals in 2021 where she came in 5th in the nation. Later that year, Alexa won Nugget Markets’ 28th Annual Bag-Off (a back-to-back victory!), earning the right to compete in Las Vegas and represent California once again.

At the 2022 Best Bagger Championship, nine contestants from nine different states faced off in three separate rounds, followed by a showdown of the final five. In each heat, competitors bagged the same selection of groceries into three cloth bags and were scored in four categories: speed, weight distribution, bagging technique and style/attitude/performance. Competitors could earn up to 30 points per heat depending how well they performed in each category. (Is the bag falling over? Is any glass touching?) Along with superb bagging technique and unflappable poise, Alexa showed amazing speed, clocking in at a mere 45.49 seconds in her final round, ultimately claiming her victory.

“I’ve had my heart set on winning Nationals since the first time I competed at Cal-Expo and finished in second place," Alexa said. "Since then, my team has always had my back. They saw the passion I had for bagging and supported me whole-heartedly through every step of the process. I’m beyond grateful for everyone who made the time to practice with me after work, and all the times I heard, ‘You’ll make us proud no matter what happens.’ Thank you to all of my Nugget family, I couldn’t have done this without you… THE CHAMP IS HERE!”

When Alexa isn’t winning national bagging championships, she works as a top gun and courtesy clerk at our West Sacramento store. She has a couple ideas about what to do with her winnings including putting some towards her new car, saving a bit and maybe even getting a few new tattoos. Wherever success takes her, Alexa continues to inspire us with her dedication, skill and positive attitude, and we simply couldn’t be prouder. Way to go, Alexa! U Rock!!!