Newsroom

When it comes to bagging it, Kyle Caserza is the king

published June 06, 2010

The 20-year-old bagger with the Vacaville market beat out competitors from nine other California stores in a series of grocery "bag-offs," earning him a $500 prize and making him the California State Best Bagger Champion.

The big win came with an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to the National Grocers Association (NGA) Best Bagger Championship. Held in February, the competition brought together top baggers from 24 states to battle it out for the grand prize of $10,000 and a chance to appear on the "Late Show with David Letterman" to bag-off against the late-night talk show host.

Caserza never imagined he would be vying for the title of the nation's best bagger when he began working for Nugget as a courtesy clerk three years ago.

"I came into it as a summer job," said Caserza, a part-time student at California State University, Sacramento. "It really is an art. It's more than just putting everything into the bag."

In a bag-off, contestants are presented with a combination of jars, boxes, cans and other grocery items with the challenge to place the items in the bag in the best way possible, in the shortest amount of time.

"But time isn't everything," Caserza stressed.

Contestants are also judged on proper bag-building technique, distribution of weight between bags (they should be as close to equal as possible), style, attitude and

appearance.

If Caserza was judged on attitude alone, the championship would be his because of his intensity, ambition and infectious enthusiasm.

"I like to work hard and get things done," he said. "Don't ever let someone tell you that you can't do something."

Vacaville Nugget Markets store director, Greg Dido, said Caserza's dedication is the key.

"Anyone who sets up a checkstand in his living room for months to practice on is in it to win," Dido said, laughing. "He definitely represented California well."

So what's his secret?

"It would help if I was taller," Caserza joked. "But it really is a matter of working hard. You have to start somewhere and build a foundation."

Hard work? No problem. Besides practicing on his homemade, living-room checkstand, Caserza would come in on his days off, or stay four or five hours after work shifts, to practice.

He also credits his co-workers and family members for his success. "Other people's input helped with strategy," he said. "I was lucky to have good support. It helped me go stronger."

That support system accompanied him to the finals in Las Vegas, where he faced 23 able opponents in the Super Bowl of bag-offs.

The first ever bag-packing contest was held in 1983, sponsored by the American Paper Institute. The NGA took over as sponsor of the Best Bagger contest in 1986, with the intent of promoting proper bagging as an important part of operating a successful retail grocery business. Nugget Markets has participated since 1994.

The annual contest even inspired the award-winning independent, feature-length documentary, "Ready, Set, Bag," which follows the lives of eight individuals and their journeys -- like Caserza's -- to the national championship.

Adding a twist this year was the elimination of the paper or plastic question. For the first time at the contest, reusable eco-friendly grocery bags were used. Although paper was used in the local and state competitions, Caserza practiced with the reusable bags.

"It was definitely different to bag with," he said. "It was harder but I got used to it."

Performing on stage in front of a boisterous audience at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, Caserza bagged his best. While he felt good about his performance, it wasn't enough to beat out 19-year old Kyle Perry from Indiana, who shares the same first name as Caserza.

"When they announced his name, I seriously thought I had won," he said.

While trying to shake off the loss, Caserza hinted that he might be back again next year.

"I'm not satisfied," he admitted. "I use my past competitors as my fire."

In the meantime, it's work as usual, although Caserza is somewhat of a local celebrity now, having been featured by local media, including an appearance on CW 31's "Good Morning Sacramento."

"Yeah, sometimes people will come in and ask for 'the bagger guy'," he said when asked how fame has affected him.

But Caserza certainly hasn't let it go to his head. "It's a rush and it's fun, but I know I can always work harder, stronger and faster."

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