Anyone who has watched a teenager put a gallon of milk on top of the bread knows bagging takes some skill. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the Minnesota Grocers Association brings its Best Bagger Contest to Mall of America, where some of the state's best baggers will compete for cash prizes.
The contest runs from noon to 2 p.m. in the mall's Southeast Court, per the event listing. Organizers say it celebrates "skill, speed, and the important role baggers play in the grocery industry." The winner goes on to represent Minnesota at the National Grocers Association's Best Bagger Contest in Las Vegas.
The grocers association's own event page puts the contest in the Atrium – Southeast Court at 60 E Broadway. If you work a checkout lane and just heard about this, you're too late: contestant registration closed Oct. 9. The association lists Caitlin Metzel as the contact for the event.
Neither the mall's listing nor the association's page gives a price for spectators. The contest takes place in one of the mall's open courts, so if you're already at the mall that Saturday, you can probably stop by and watch.
The national contest is a big deal. The National Grocers Association says it has run the competition for more than 30 years. The next national championship is Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 2027, at the MGM Grand Convention Center during The NGA Show, and the national champion wins $10,000 in cash. Whoever wins in Bloomington will compete there against top baggers from across the country.
