12 top metro Atlanta Kroger employees compete for bagging title

Kroger baggers battle for state title

Bagging groceries is a skill - especially if you want to be fast at it. Baggers from Krogers across Georgia have come together in metro Atlanta to put their skills to the test in the hopes of winning the title of Best Bagger.

ATLANTA - Bagging groceries may seem like a routine task, but for 12 Kroger employees from across Georgia, it's a skill worthy of competition — and potentially, a $10,000 prize.

What we know:

On Wednesday morning, excitement filled the Kroger store at Embry Village in northeast Atlanta, where contestants faced off in the Georgia State Grocery Bagging Championship. The high-energy event featured heats of three competitors at a time, all working to perfectly bag identical sets of groceries in less than 40 seconds.

Each contestant was judged on speed, organization, weight distribution, and care for delicate items like bread and eggs. Judges also considered the baggers' style and customer interaction — a reminder that personality counts just as much as precision.

What they're saying:

"This is more than just bragging rights," organizers said. The state winner will advance to a regional showdown against other champions from across the Southeast, with the ultimate goal of making it to the National Championship in Las Vegas, where a $10,000 grand prize awaits.

The 12 finalists in Atlanta were selected from 182 stores across the state, each earning their spot by winning local and regional competitions.

Best Baggers competing in Kroger’s Georgia Bag-Off are: