Utah Bagger Wins $5,000 in National Competition

MaKenzie Wood, a 20-year-old employee at Fresh Market in Layton, placed second in the National Grocers Association's Best Bagger Competition.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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MaKenzie Wood, a 20-year-old bagger at Fresh Market in Layton, Utah, won $5,000 and a trophy after placing second in the National Grocers Association's Best Bagger Competition held in Las Vegas. Wood qualified for the national event after winning the title of 'Utah's Best Bagger' in a state-level competition last summer.

Why it matters

Wood's success highlights the important role that grocery store employees, especially front-line workers like baggers, play in providing excellent customer service. Her achievement also serves as an example of how independently owned and national grocery chains are honoring their employees on Supermarket Employee Appreciation Day.

The details

The intense, timed national competition judged baggers on their speed, proper bag packing technique, how evenly weighted their bags were, as well as their attitude, style and appearance. Wood, who has worked at Fresh Market for the past four years, said her favorite part of the job is interacting with customers. In addition to bagging, she also works as a cashier and supervisor at the store's front end.

  • Wood won the title of 'Utah's Best Bagger' during the Utah Food Industry Association's annual competition last summer.
  • The National Grocers Association's Best Bagger Competition was held in Las Vegas on February 10, 2026.
  • Supermarket Employee Appreciation Day was observed on February 22, 2026.

The players

MaKenzie Wood

A 20-year-old bagger at Fresh Market in Layton, Utah, who won $5,000 and a trophy after placing second in the National Grocers Association's Best Bagger Competition.

Fresh Market

The grocery store in Layton, Utah, where MaKenzie Wood has worked for the past four years as a bagger, cashier, and supervisor.

National Grocers Association

The organization that hosts the annual Best Bagger Competition, which pits grocery store baggers from across the country against one another.

Utah Food Industry Association

The organization that hosts the annual competition to determine Utah's Best Bagger, which MaKenzie Wood won last summer.

Associated Food Stores

The company that owns Fresh Market and recognized MaKenzie Wood's achievement.

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What they’re saying

“I had a lot of fun representing Fresh Market and Utah in the competition. It's a fun environment, and I'm always impressed with the other competitors.”

— MaKenzie Wood

“She dedicated countless hours to perfecting her technique, and it truly paid off with a $5,000 prize. MaKenzie represented Layton Fresh Market and Associated Food Stores with excellence, and we're grateful to have her on our team.”

— Candice Fischer, Director of Customer Relationship Management, Associated Food Stores

What’s next

MaKenzie Wood plans to put some of her $5,000 prize money towards her studies at Weber State University, where she is pursuing a degree in criminal justice with a concentration in crime scene investigation.

The takeaway

MaKenzie Wood's success in the national Best Bagger Competition demonstrates the important role that grocery store employees play in providing excellent customer service. Her achievement also highlights how independently owned and national grocery chains are recognizing their frontline workers, especially on Supermarket Employee Appreciation Day.