From Grocery Bagger to National Champion: How Passion for Customer Service Earned This Woman $5,000

MaKenzie Wood's Journey to National Recognition

For MaKenzie Wood of Layton, Utah, exhibiting great customer service has always been in the bag. For the past four years, she's worked as a bagger at Fresh Market in Layton, among other roles, and her favorite part of the job is interacting with customers.

"This has really been my only job, so I take a lot of pride in my work, and I love to work hard and show people that I do a good job," she said.

Competing on a National Stage

Wood recently showcased her bagging expertise on both local and national levels, resulting in significant recognition and extra cash. She placed second and won $5,000, along with bragging rights and a trophy, in the National Grocers Association's Best Bagger Competition held in Las Vegas earlier this month.

MaKenzie Wood, a bagger from Fresh Market in Layton, holds a trophy after her second-place finish at the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Competition in Las Vegas.

The intense, timed event pits grocery store baggers from across the country against one another, with judging based on speed, proper bag packing technique, weight distribution, attitude, style, and appearance.

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

The Path to Nationals

Wood qualified for the national contest after winning the title of "Utah's Best Bagger" during the Utah Food Industry Association's annual competition last summer.

"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," said Candice Fischer, director of customer relationship management for associated retail operations.

MaKenzie Wood competing in the National Grocers Association’s Best Bagger Competition in Las Vegas.

This wasn't Wood's first national competition - she also competed last year and walked away with tickets to Super Bowl LX.

Celebrating Supermarket Employees

Wood's recognition comes as Supermarket Employee Appreciation Day approaches on February 22nd, an observance that started in 2021 to commend workers in the food and grocery industry for their role in keeping supermarkets open during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We recognize that the team members at retail, baggers, cashiers, they're often the last contact that our guests have with the store. And it's really their positive energy, their service, that make our grocery stores a place where guests want to come and then create that community hub," said Elizabeth Barnett, senior marketing specialist for Associated Food Stores.

Supermarket Employee Appreciation Day helps celebrate employees like Wood who are passionate about serving their communities.

"I feel like it's such a great feeling to have people in the community that know you and love and support you, even if you just pack their groceries or check them out," she said.

MaKenzie Wood poses at Fresh Market in Layton after her national competition success.

Beyond Bagging: A Multifaceted Role

Though the honor of Utah's Best Bagger with national recognition has a nice ring to it, Wood's success stems from her love for what she does at Layton's Fresh Market. In addition to bagging, she also works as a cashier and supervisor for the store's front end.

"I think that's such a blessing to be able to recognize more people in my community than I usually would if I worked somewhere else," Wood said.

Balancing Work and Education

Wood is also making time for education, attending Weber State University where she's studying criminal justice with a concentration in crime scene investigation. She plans to put some of her recent winnings toward school expenses.

Her story demonstrates how passion for customer service can lead to unexpected opportunities and recognition, even in roles that might seem routine to some.