This week marked our 30th Annual Bag-Off, an epic companywide competition celebrating some VIPs in our stores—Baggers! Nugget Market’s Bag-Off is a massive production where hundreds of associates come together for dance parties, spirit skits, food, fun and some friendly competition to see who can claim the ultimate b(r)agging rights.

How does it work? Every year, we start with store-level heats where Baggers at each location compete against their own team to see who can bag the best. Along with speed, scores are based on things like weight distribution, bagging technique and attitude/appearance. Each store’s champion then faces off at our companywide competition known as Bag-Off to see who will represent Nugget Market (and California!) at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship in Las Vegas.

This year, we went big with a “Bag to the Future” theme, complete with clock tower and DeLorean! While competition was fierce and all our Baggers brought their A-game, one associate ultimately claimed the title. Congratulations to... Coby E. from our Roseville (Blue Oaks) Nugget Market for taking home the championship title for the second year in a row!

Also, major shout-out to our other amazing finalists:

• 2nd Place - Adrian T. from out Vacaville Nugget Market
• 3rd Place - Matt H. from our Sacramento Nugget Market
• 4th Place - Braden S. from Fork Lift by Nugget Markets in Cameron Park

Along with our bagging competition, our stores also competed to see whose spirit could outshine the rest and earn their team the coveted Spirit Cat. Every store’s energy, enthusiasm and fun were through the roof, but once again, only one could reign supreme. This year, the store-level spirit award went to…. our Sacramento (Florin) store, a.k.a. the Florin Kings!

We are so grateful to everyone who participated in the competition, held down the fort in stores during the event, and worked behind the scenes to make it all happen. Bag-Off is a special event at Nugget Market that simply would not be what it is without our team’s talent, energy and enthusiasm. Huge thank you to everyone, and congrats again to Coby! Next stop, Vegas!