BUXTON — Janessa Plummer of Plummer’s Shop ‘n’ Save in Buxton, took home first place in the Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association 2014 Best Bagger Championship held in conjunction with the Maine Food Means Business Summit on Sept. 9.
Spencer Macleod from the Wells Hannaford store took second prize and Nicole Brackett from the Riverside Hannaford store took third prize.
Plummer will represent Maine in the February 2015 National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Lee Nelson and Sharon Rose Vaznis of WCSH6 emceed the Best Bagger Championship, in which contestants were judged by speed of bagging, proper bag-building technique, weight distribution in the bag, as well as style, attitude and appearance.
In addition to taking home “bagging rights” for Maine, Plummer will compete against an estimated 39 other state champions for the $10,000 grand prize and an invitation to be on the Late Show with David Letterman.
The Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association is a statewide business trade association representing Main Street businesses; independently owned and operated grocery stores, supermarkets, wholesalers and distributors, food and beverage producers and processors and associated service companies.
In addition to the bagging competition winners, the association recently announced its annual awards at the Maine Food Means Business 2014 Summit held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport. Kathy and Ed Bell, Bell’s IGA in Calais and Orono are the 2014 Grocers of the Year; Joan and Mike Anderson, Winterport Winery, Penobscot Brewery and Pairings are the 2014 Producers of the Year; and Michael Bozzuto, Bozzuto’s Inc., is the 2014 Wholesaler of the Year.
Awarded annually, these honors are given to members who meet the highest standards of excellence, according to a statement from the association. These include contributions to the association, community service, business excellence in providing a positive workplace, increased sales, contributions to the food industry through legislative or educational activities, and a commitment to furthering opportunities for other Maine businesses.
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