Supermarkets are pretty much of muchness – same set up, same products.

However Bureta Countdown has something special, something quite different, that sets it apart. And her name Marleina Kerepa.

She's a customer service manager, but also a cracker-jack checkout operator – one of the best three Countdown operators in the country, if not the best.

Marleina was selected from 490 applicants for the supermarket chain's 2015 Checkout Operator of the Year title.

They did that with interviews and several rounds of testing at the checkout. They had to scan 60 items including fresh produce, alcohol, meat and chilled foods. There were a few carefully laid traps in the trolley.

They included cracked eggs and opened or damaged packaging – and all this while engaging with the customer.

The winner of the competition will be announced at an awards dinner in Auckland later this month. The winner will take home an antique register trophy and a $1000 gift card.