OVER June and July, hundreds of checkout operators from New World, PAK’nSAVE, Shoprite and Write Price stores in Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Manawatu, Taranaki, Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty tested their skills onstage in the hopes of taking out the title of Foodstuffs North Island Checker of the Year.
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 winners from each store were:
- Manawatu: Ashley Hurunui from New World Levin
- Taranaki: Kirsten Cooper from PAK’nSAVE New Plymouth
- Wellington: Civic Cruz from New World Carterton
- Hawke’s Bay: Stevie O’Reilly from New World Onekawa
- Northland: Gina Iggo from New World Regent
- Auckland North: Shannon McMinn from PAK’nSAVE Albany
- Auckland Central: Sheena Hardaker from New World Victoria Park
- Auckland South: Esa-Jayne Peika from PAK’nSAVE Papakura
- Waikato: Rachel MacKenzie from New World Hillcrest
- Bay of Plenty: Eloise Braithwaite from New World Gate Pa
“Our Checker of the Year competitions have being going for over 40 years, and are a fun night for checkers to demonstrate their fantastic customer service skills and engage in a bit of friendly competition with other stores,” said event organiser Kristie McGregor.
Mystery shoppers test 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 14 November.
