Storm Impacts Stores, Deliveries

MARK HAMSTRA

CHICAGO — Jewel-Osco here was forced to close all of its locations by 10 p.m. Tuesday as the massive snowstorm rolled across the Midwest, and some remained closed on Wednesday morning, a spokeswoman for the Supervalu-owned chain told SN.

"Our stores were prepared for the storm and did experience a rush of customers," Karen May, the spokeswoman said. "In at least a couple of stores, that rush began as early as Monday morning."

May said customers were stocking up on staples, including bread, milk, water, meat, bananas, juice and cereal. "Despite the storm, our stores are faring well with in-stocks, and we are working to replenish our supply of perishables," she said.

A spokeswoman for West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee said all of that chain's stores were open on Wednesday, and it, too, was working to resume deliveries. She said deliveries from Hy-Vee's main grocery distribution facility in Chariton, Iowa, and from its Perishable Distributors of Iowa facility in Ankeny, Iowa were halted Tuesday during the height of the storm.

"Blowing, drifting snow and stranded cars and semi trucks had closed many roads in our trade area, and we had a number of our own drivers stranded throughout the Midwest," said Ruth Comer, the Hy-Vee spokeswoman.

She said deliveries resumed Wednesday, although facilities are short-staffed and some areas in southeast Iowa, northeast Missouri and southern Illinois are still inaccessible due to road closures.