Sunset Foods in Libertyville crowns its bagging champion

Sunset Foods has crowned a champion bagger from its chain of stores, who will move on to a statewide competition.

Held at the Libertyville Sunset Foods at Peterson and Butterfield roads, Joseph Ryan, who works at that location, bested 11 competitors to win the 2016 Best Bagger contest. Several customers cheered on the competitors.

Ryan was followed by Libertyville employee Angie Baquiran in second place. Libertyville baggers Nick Ramirez and Gerry Valente tied for third.

Contest judges took into account speed of bagging, proper bag-building technique, weight distribution in the sack, as well as style, attitude and appearance. The competition is meant to show how superior bagging skills are a part of customer service at food stores.

Ryan was particularly strong in the weight differential category. He won the right to represent Sunset at the Illinois Food Retailers Association-Grocery Merchandising Association's Best Bagger in October.

The winner of the state competition goes to the National Grocers Association Competition in Las Vegas in February 2017 and the opportunity to win a first-place prize of $10,000.