Press Release
Bar Harbor Hannaford Associate Wins National Best Bagger Competition
Feb. 25, 2020
Description
Cote competed against more than two dozen state champions from across the U.S., including two other Hannaford associates from Vermont and New Hampshire.
Details:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2020
Contact: Ericka Dodge, 207-885-3132 (o); 207-232-5892 (m)
Bar Harbor Hannaford Associate Wins National Best Bagger Competition
San Diego, CA—Hannaford associate, Nicole Cote won the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Championship in San Diego, California on Monday, Feb. 24. Cote competed against more than two dozen state champions from across the U.S., including two other Hannaford associates from Vermont and New Hampshire.
Cote who received a grand prize of $10,000 said her winning strategy was to "put the jars in the middle."
“Nicole made all of us at Hannaford really proud! To be the best in the country at bagging groceries is an enormous accomplishment that speaks to Nicole’s skill and dedication for her work,” said Mike Vail, President of Hannaford. “Nicole and the other two state champions from Hannaford who competed are great examples of how our associates work hard every day to take care with customers’ groceries and move shoppers through the checkout lane efficiently.”
Cote, a twenty-year Hannaford associate, works in the Bar Harbor store as the Assistant Manager of Customer Service, said customers have been asking her about the national competition every day since she won the Maine Grocers Association competition last September in Portland.
“Nicole is already a hero in Bar Harbor and I expect that this win will only boost her star power with our customers,” said Jay Boyce, the Bar Harbor Store Manager, who was on hand with several other Hannaford associates to cheer on Nicole and her fellow Hannaford competitors. “Nicole loves to take care of her customers and this award is recognition for that.”
The Best Bagger competition, sponsored by the National Grocers Association, dates back to 1987. Now, it’s a year-long competition in which baggers compete on speed, bag-building technique, weight distribution between bags, style, attitude, and appearance.
Scott Basset from Milton, Vermont and Alex Gamache from Goffstown, New Hampshire each won their state’s best bagger contest and also competed in the national competition.
This is not the first time a Hannaford associate took top prize. In 2011, Hannaford associate, Krystal Smith of Vermont won the distinction.
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About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 182 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 27,000 associates. Additional information can be found at www.hannaford.com.