Over 120 checkout operators from Waikato New World and Pak’nSave stores have tested their skills against each other onstage at the Clarence St Theatre in a bid to take out the Foodstuffs North Island Checker of Year.

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 were Mikayla Piripi from New World Hillcrest, Danielle Hoyle from New World Matamata and Jason Haskell from New World Hillcrest.

Kristie McGregor, event organiser, said the competition was to test the checkers’ 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,” McGregor said.

Warren Eddington, New World Hillcrest store owner operator, said that his team has had great results in the past three years and that there is a lot of pride in being part of a successful Checker of the Year store. “It is a wonderful celebration of achievement in the Foodstuffs group and an opportunity for the checkers to get the recognition they deserve.”

There are 10 regional Checker of the Year competitions across the North Island throughout June and July, 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.