Giant Food Store Cashier Bags Trophy

How does a food store cashier win a regional trophy for bagging groceries -- a task she typically does not do?

Chelsea Hite, a part-time employee at in South Whitehall who works the cash registers and courtesy counter, isn’t sure.

“I was surprised when they said I won,” said Hite, 20, of Alburtis, who has worked at the store the past 3.5 years. “I guess I knew what I was doing.”

Hite said she “went with instinct” when it came to impressing judges with speed, friendliness and weight distribution. 

She knew to separate soap from meat, for example, and to pack heavy items on the bottom and lighter items, like bread, on top.  Taking that common sense approach, she beat about 15 other Giant employees from districts in the eastern region at Willow Grove on Sept. 23 to bag the top prize: a tiered trophy nearly as tall as she is.

It was the second time Hite placed in the contest but the first time she won. It was also the first time a trophy came with the title.

Proud of his co-worker’s prize, displayed on the courtesy counter, Giant bagger Mike Symons said he wasn’t surprised by Hite’s win. “She’s unique,” he said. “She’s bright, has manners and a sense of humor."

Scoring first in the region put Hite in the running for “Pennsylvania’s Best Bagger Championship,” sponsored by the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association and held in Harrisburg on Wednesday, Oct. 5.  There, according to Hite, 16 baggers from grocery stores in Pennsylvania and one from Virginia were judged on speed, bag-building, weight distribution and personal style, attitude and appearance. 

Hite tried her best but didn’t place. “I guess my scores were not as good as theirs,” she said.

Not to worry.  This natural winner, who’s bagged trophies in soccer, cheerleading and bowling while attending school in Allentown and Southern Lehigh, gets to keep her big prize at the store until next year, when she vows to try again.