Brady Long, representing Buehler’s Fresh Foods Medina Forest Meadows, has repeated as Ohio’s Best Bagger at the 2016 Ohio Best Bagger Contest on Tuesday, August 8, 2016. Brady won the contest in 2015, and has reclaimed the title in 2016. The Ohio Grocers Association event featured regional winners from Ohio supermarkets and was hosted at the Buehler’s Milltown location in Wooster, Ohio.

“We are thrilled to have Brady represent our state again as Ohio’s Best Bagger,” stated Kristin Mullins, President and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association. “Brady encapsulates what it took to be crowned Ohio’s champion and we look forward to rooting him on at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship in February of next year.”

Brady beat 14 competitors to win the coveted title, including fellow co-workers Evan Lambert, Logan Haid and Jacob Lustig. The award comes with a $1,000 check, and a trip to Las Vegas to compete in the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship in February 2017. Special guest of honor, Sarah Hider, former Miss Ohio of Wooster, sang the National Anthem and competed as a “celebrity bagger.”

Dan Shanahan, Buehler’s President and COO stated, “Congratulations to Brady for a remarkable repeat performance as Ohio’s Best Bagger! Brady daily demonstrates the qualities of an outstanding employee and has a keen awareness of customer service. We will be cheering him on at the national competition in Las Vegas.”

In addition to Brady Long, top scores went to Bette Kiggins from Giant Eagle in Rocky River; Amy Jordan from Giant Eagle in Warren; Trey Watson from Kroger in Toledo; and Aaron Delroy from Kroger in Beavercreek. Each of the top five winners received cash prizes.

Buehler’s Fresh Foods philanthropy partner, the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, also benefited from this event. The non-perishable foods used as part of the bagging competition were donated to the Food Bank, as well as all ancillary food.

About Ohio Grocers Association Best Bagger Contest:

Contestants are judged not only on speed, but also on weight distribution between bags, correct bagging technique, professional appearance and attitude. The best bagger contest is an exciting competition, which serves as a way to enhance proper and effective bagging techniques, as well as a prime opportunity to showcase talented employees.

About Buehler’s:

E&H Family Group owns and operates fourteen Buehler’s Fresh Foods Supermarkets located in Wooster (2), Orrville, Wadsworth, Medina (2), Brunswick, Ashland, New Philadelphia, Dover, Jackson Township (Canton), Coshocton, and Portage Lakes (Green), and Massillon, Ohio.

E&H Family Group owns and operates eighteen ACE Hardware stores located in Orrville, Medina, Dover, New Philadelphia, Delaware, Jackson Township (Canton), Independence, Rocky River, Westlake, Avon Lake, Middlefield, Oberlin, Garrettsville, Hilliard, Plain Township (Canton), Kamm’s Corner (Cleveland) Appleseed (Mansfield), Piketon, and North Olmsted, Ohio.

E & H Family Group is a family-owned company committed to environmentally responsible behavior.  For more information visit  www.buehlers.com

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