Are you a grocery professional with a competitive side? Register to compete in the first ever Illinois Best Bagger Competition!

On Monday, August 17, grocers from around the state will compete for the chance to be called Illinois’ best bagger. The competition will take place at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The winners will receive cash prizes and the Best Bagger will win a round-trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, to compete in the National Best Bagger Competition. Airfare courtesy of United Airlines.

Groceries for the competition are being provided by Hy-Vee.

FIRST PLACE
$500 and a trip to the National Best Bagger Competition at the NGA Annual Convention in Las Vegas (Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2027), including airfare and hotel

SECOND PLACE – $250

THIRD PLACE – $100

Registration closes on Monday, August 3, 2026. 

Competition Eligibility

• Grocery employees who spend at least 25% of their time bagging
• Primary duties must be classified as front-end staff, and must have a non-managerial title, role, and set of responsibilities
• Contestants must work for companies located within the State of Illinois
  • Baggers do not have to hold residency within the state they are representing at the National Best Bagger Championship
• Only one contestant per retail location
• Be of legal working age
• Baggers 20 years old or younger must have at least one chaperone who must be at least 21 years of age

Competition Rules & Scoring

The bagger who scores the most points wins the contest. Baggers are awarded points based off of speed, proper bag building technique, distribution of weight between bags, style, attitude and appearance.

Speed = 10 points total

Proper bagging technique = 10 points total

Distribution of weight between bags = 5 points total

Style, attitude and appearance = 5 points total

Ready to compete?

Click the button below to register!

Questions?

If you have questions, please reach out to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) at info@irma.org or 217-544-1003.