Followup: Andrew Borracchini’s bid for bagging glory

(Photos courtesy National Grocers Association)
Though he didn’t make the top 5 at the national championship, Washington State’s “Best Bagger,” Andrew Borracchini from Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral, is a winner just the same. The national bag-offs were Monday in Las Vegas, during the National Grocers Association convention, and a 30-year-old woman who works at a Piggly-Wiggly in Wisconsin brought in the bacon (the $10,000 grand prize). Andrew had quite the cheering section (as noted in our preview before his departure), T-shirts and all!

And MM spokesperson Torie McIntyre says that “out of 24 contestants, (Andrew) made it until the Top 5 were chosen. He competed well and represented Metropolitan Market and West Seattle (and Washington!) well.” (Here’s coverage from the Las Vegas Sun and from the Las Vegas Review-Journal – Andrew’s in one of their pix.)

Dano February 15, 2012 (7:43 am)

… Such a terrific young man!…. And I am so impressed by the support and enthusiasm the folks at Metropolitan Market have shown toward him….. Congratulations all!

Aman February 15, 2012 (8:13 am)

Good work Andrew! I’m sure that when your are 30 you’d kick that woman from the Wisconsin “Piggly-Wiggly’s butt!! Hoorah!!!

Tuesday February 15, 2012 (8:24 am)

This story is awesome. Congrats to Andrew!

JoAnne February 15, 2012 (8:43 am)

Such a young man to have made it into the top 5!
That is amazing. Congratulations Andrew!

WSB February 15, 2012 (8:46 am)

Sorry if my copy’s unclear – he didn’t make the top 5 – but was in the competition all the way up to that round, according to spokesperson Torie. – TR

dbsea February 15, 2012 (9:02 am)

I thought this was a parody at first. But good for him.

My Name is Earl did an episode on a bagging championship and I thought they’d made the whole thing up.

WSB February 15, 2012 (9:16 am)

The National Grocers Association – independent stores/groups like Metropolitan, so far as I can tell – has been doing this a long time. Seems brilliant to me to take your industry and get it some extra marketing/attention, and celebrate some of the people involved in it outside the executive offices, by spotlighting one particular service they offer, with something fun like this. – TR

SHQ February 15, 2012 (9:35 am)

Tracy– is Andrew a Borracchini, as in the bakery?

WSB February 15, 2012 (9:42 am)

SHQ, yes. I asked him during our pre-championship interview why he was working at Metro Market and not oh say the family business, and he said something along the lines of, his family thought it was a great idea to get some experience in the rest of the business world before potentially joining in theirs!

Westside February 15, 2012 (10:27 am)

I think he was thrown by all that crappy, mega-conglomerate, mass-produced food. Working at Met Mark he never has to bag that junk.

off topic February 15, 2012 (11:04 am)

I just can’t stop looking at the mullet the guy in front of the cheering section is sporting.

ohthehorror February 15, 2012 (2:34 pm)

off topic – I’m so glad you posted that because I was thinking the same thing. It’s like he was Photoshopped in from the 1987 bagging competition which must have been held in Bensonhurst.