Grocery chains say ample warning of looming snowstorm gave them time to stock up

Yes, the big grocery chains in the metro area are seeing lots of shoppers ahead of the monstrous weekend snowstorm, but they say they are well stocked with the food and merchandise people want.

Kris Staaf, a Safeway spokeswoman, said unlike several recent storms, “there’s been a lot of lead up to this storm, giving our customers multiple days to prepare.”

“We’ve been preparing for this weather event and coordinating with our Denver distribution center as well as vendor partners to ensure our stores are stocked up,” she added. “Customers tend to purchase the basics — bread, milk, eggs, cheese, stew/chili items, etc.”

Photos tweeted Thursday showed a heavily shopped produce department at a King Soopers ahead of the storm.

Kelli McGannon , a spokeswoman for the parent chain Kroger, said customers “tend to stock up on shelf-stable items and then the traditional favorites: Bananas, milk, bread, eggs and dare I say it — toilet paper.”

McGannon said Kroger is not anticipating any closures due to the storm, which is predicted to dump anywhere from 1 to 2 feet of snow on Denver and even more to the north and west.

“Our store teams are committed to being there when our communities need us most and this weather event is no exception,” she said. “We will also work with associates on a case-by-case basis to make sure they can safely make it work.”

For those who can still squeeze a shopping trip in before the storm barrels in, Direct Energy emergency experts recommend a pantry list for barebones survival, especially if the power goes out like it did in Texas last month — because food in the refrigerator and freezer may spoil or cooking may be compromised.

The pantry list should include:

  • Bottled water (at least one gallon per person per day, for at least three days)
  • Canned goods, soups and stews
  • Snack foods, chips, crackers and cookies in sealed packages
  • Granola and cereal
  • Jarred foods, anything from jellies to pickles to meats
  • Canned tuna and salmon
  • Peanut butter
  • Dried pasta and jarred sauce
  • Wax-sealed hard cheeses
  • Salted butter lasts longer at room temperature than unsalted butter
  • Dried fruit, nuts, jerky and energy bars
  • Shelf-stable juice
  • Coffee, tea and hot cocoa mix, marshmallows

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