For the second time in Nugget Market history, one of our awesome associates has won the title of Best Bagger in the Nation! Sebastian Moretti from our Davis (Covell Blvd.) store took first place at the Best Bagger Championship hosted by the National Grocers Association (NGA) in Las Vegas, claiming the 2025 title and the $10,000 to go along with it. Earlier this week, he represented California and our company as he competed against 18 baggers from other states over two rounds.

Did we mention it was his first-ever national bagging competition? Even though he makes the job look super easy, qualifying for the Nationals is a feat in and of itself. To find our ultimate bagging beast every year, we start off with internal, store-level heats at 15 of our locations, where our courtesy clerks compete against their own peers for the chance to represent their store at one of our most beloved internal companywide events: our annual Bag-Off! There, courtesy clerks from each store vie for the chance to go to Nationals (and win there, too). So, to sum it all up, Sebastian had back-to-back-to-back bagging victories!

This doesn’t come without intense training. When our courtesy clerks bag your groceries, they take some important considerations into account: speed, weight distribution, and bagging technique. Is the bag falling over? Is the cold stuff together? Along with style and attitude, these factors are judged on a point scale, and Sebastian swept each category.

Mentored by Jeremy J., who's a member of our training team, and Alexa S., Sebastian’s fellow associate at our Davis (Covell) store and the 2022 Best Bagger in the Nation, Sebastian practiced every week for hours. It helps when it’s your job, too! Displaying cool confidence and swift sureness, Sebastian put his dedication into action at the final event and claimed the victory. He thanked his coaches as he accepted his award, and touched on how much this meant to everyone. He plans to put his winnings towards his dream car!

When he’s not excelling at the bagging game or focusing on his college studies, Sebastian works as a courtesy clerk at our Davis (Covell Blvd.) store, which he’s been visiting since a child growing up. Now, he gets to clock in as a national champion—inspiring us all with his poise, skill, and positive attitude. We couldn’t be prouder! Sebastian, YOU ROCK!