Alexa Sobsey displaying her trophy as colleagues cheer her on outside Nugget Markets.Photo: Eric Warren
Anyone who has accidentally smashed a loaf of bread or crushed a dozen eggs under a soup can at the supermarket self-checkout line knows that bagging groceries can be a frustrating organizational puzzle.
Sobsey’s journey to the championship began in August 2018, on her first day of work atNugget Marketsin West Sacramento.
“My first day at the store was our in-store bagging competitions,” says Sobsey, who also works in the market’s floral department. “I didn’t win. Not even close. I was not very good when I first started, but I loved how excited everyone was. I fed off the energy.”
Sobsey began training after shifts with colleagues who had previously competed at nationals — sometimes as much as two hours a day, four days a week.
Alexa Sobsey .Eric Warren
Her dedication finally paid off on her third trip to the national competition, held Feb. 28 in Las Vegas, when Sobsey bested competitors from independent grocers across nine states to win the NGA’sBest Bagger Championshipand a $10,000 prize.
Contestants were judged on speed, “bag-building” technique, weight distribution between bags, style, attitude and appearance.
“They threw some curveballs at us,” says Sobsey, who says she trained primarily with shelf-stable items and wasn’t expecting some of the oddly shaped refrigerated items she ended up bagging. “Jars of whipped cream, Naked smoothies, plastic hummus containers — I totally wasn’t ready for that one!”
Alexa Sobsey collecting her prize money.Eric Warren
Eric Stille, President and CEO of Nugget Market, Inc., applauds Sobsey for representing the family-owned Sacramento-based chain, which was named one ofPEOPLE’s 100 Companies That Care in 2021.
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Sobsey plans to put some of her prize money in savings, but she’s also considering a new tattoo to commemorate the big win.
“Maybe a tiny little grocery bag with some produce and stuff sticking out the top,” she says.
Nugget Market, Inc. made PEOPLE’s annual 100 Companies That Care list in 2021. To nominate a business demonstrating outstanding respect for its employees, community and the environment, visitGreat Place to Work.
source: people.com
