Grocery employee wins U.S. national grocery bagging championship

Rocco Cammorata, who works at Publix grocery store in Suwanee G.A., recently won the top prize at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship, earning a US$10,000 grand prize and national bragging (or, more precisely, bagging) rights. (WXIA via CNN Newsource)

SUWANEE, Georgia (WXIA) -- An 18-year-old grocery store employee is now officially the best bagger in the country.

Rocco Cammorata, who works at Publix grocery store, recently won the top prize at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship, earning a US$10,000 grand prize and national bragging (or, more precisely, bagging) rights.

“This year, I went to nationals, and I won it all,” Rocco said.

While bagging groceries might seem simple, the competition judges contestants on speed, weight distribution, and technique.

Rocco says there is a clear system behind every bag.

“Get your two walls in on the side, cans on the bottom, put your filler items in the top,” he explained.

Contestants must pack groceries in under 53 seconds while keeping fragile items protected and balancing the weight of each bag.

Training for the national stage took months.

“We would train three or four days a week for an hour and a half,” Rocco said. “My dad or mom would time me, and then I would go weigh my bags.”

His father, Martin Cammorata, says the whole family got involved.

“Training was boot camp for him. We called it Rocco’s Den,” Martin said.

The job is also a family tradition. Martin has worked at Publix for 32 years, and Rocco’s older brother has also competed at nationals.

“It’s in the blood, for sure,” Martin said.

Rocco’s manager says the win reflects the pride he brings to the job every day.

“It’s amazing for the store, amazing for his peers, amazing for Publix,” said store manager Scott Drew. “Rocco really prides himself on the way he bags and how he takes care of our customers.”

The national title is the first win for someone from Publix and the state of Georgia.

Despite the national recognition, Rocco says he’s still focused on doing the job well for the people who come through his checkout lane.

“You have to move fast and get everything in the bags in an orderly fashion,” he said.

And if anyone wants to learn the technique, the champion says he’s happy to teach.