Media Release
4 August 2016

Locals shine in Checker of the Year competition

This week, more than 290 checkout operators from Auckland New World, PAK’nSAVE and Four Square stores tested their skills against each other onstage with the hope of ultimately taking out the title of Foodstuffs North Island Checker of Year.

The heats were held in Auckland North, Central and South regions, at the Bruce Mason Centre and the Vodafone Events Centre on the 1, 2 and 3 August.

The checkers were judged by a team of eight senior Foodstuffs staff on their speed, presentation, customer service and accuracy as they scanned 30 items as fast as possible, while also staying friendly and composed.

The top three checkers from Auckland North were Olivia Sanderson from PAK’nSAVE Albany, Heather Pearson from New World Warkworth and Deanne Hornigold from PAK’nSAVE Albany.

In Auckland Central the winners were Nitu Kaur from New World Victoria Park, Blessing Taulagi from New World Stonefields and Camille Pineda from New World Howick.

Auckland South awarded Emma Croker from New World Clendon, Rameeza Begum from New World Clendon and Marjie Saumani from PAK’nSAVE Papakura.

Event organiser Kristie McGregor said it is a fun night for checkers to demonstrate their fantastic customer service skills and engage in a bit of friendly competition with other stores.

“We have been running the Checker of the Year competition for over 40 years and it is a great opportunity to recognise our check out operators for the value they add to the customer experience,” said Kristie McGregor.

PAK’nSAVE Albany Customer Service Manager Andrea Heasman said that the Checker of the Year event is an opportunity for the checkers to showcase who they are and what they do.

“The job isn’t always easy, they have to multitask, be friendly, be efficient and provide a great customer experience,” said Andrea Heasman.

The competitors’ colleagues wore costumes in the super hero theme of the night and cheered them on with banners, chants and store mascots.

The top twelve checkers each received a $50 gift card; with the top three finalists winning extra prizes. There were also prizes for the best support team and best team of checkers overall.

There are 10 regional Checker of the Year competitions across the North Island throughout June, July and August, with mystery shoppers testing each region’s winner to determine one overall North Island Checker of the Year winner and two runners-up, which will be announced at the Foodstuffs North Island Excellence Awards on 26 November.

ENDS

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