Second Colorado Blizzard Compounds Problems

DENVER -- Retailers here got socked with another blizzard yesterday even as they were trying to dig out from the 30 inches of snow that fell last week, causing widespread shortages on shelves, industry sources said. Mary Lou Chapman, president, Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association, said many supermarkets in the state were having trouble getting supplies since last week, and were expected to be facing ongoing product shortages through the weekend as another 12-18 inches was expected by today. “Stores in Denver are making due, but there are lots of empty shelves,” she told SN, noting that Colorado has to import almost all of its produce from out of state this time of year, and many of those deliveries have not been able to get through. Chris Howes, president of Colorado Retail Council, said a Safeway he visited on Sunday had only received one delivery of perishables since last Wednesday, and he expected similar conditions to return. “We‘re getting smacked,” he said. “It‘s déjà vu all over again.” --Mark Hamstra