Checker of the year event a test of speed and accuracy

Ashley Mather from Brookfield New World at Checker of the Year event at Baycourt. Photo/George Novak

New World Gate Pa and New World Brookfield cleaned up in Foodstuffs Bay of Plenty Checker of the Year competition.

More than 120 checkout operators from Bay of Plenty New World and Pak'NSave stores tested their skills against each other onstage at the Baycourt Centre.

The winner, Ainsley Meynell from New World Gate Pa, will compete against other regional winners for the North Island Checker of Year title.

Holly Fillipo, from New World Brookfield, and Eden Arkwright, from New World Brookfield, were second and third, with New World Brookfield also taking out the fifth, sixth and seventh places, and best team award.

"It's a great event and it's good to celebrate success and recognise our frontline staff, who are such an important part of the business," said New World Brookfield owner Brendon Good.

"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 event organiser Kristie McGregor.

The top 12 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.

Foodstuffs holds 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, who will be announced on November 26.