Annandale Grocery Stores Expecting Tuesday Evening Rush Ahead of Storm

With the winter storm on its way, many residents will visit their local grocery stores to pick up staple items such as water, batteries and bread.

If forecasters are correct, Annandale could be seeing about 5 inches of snow on Wednesday. Some predictions are that the snow will be that wet and heavy kind which could mean power outages.

A manager at the Annandale Giant at 7137 Columbia Pike said the store was prepared as early as Tuesday morning for the evening rush of customers looking to buy supplies. In additon to food and other non-perishable items, the store is selling snow shovels for $7-$9. A manager at the Safeway at 7414 Little River Turnpike said a few customers purchased shovels from the store early Tuesday afternoon.

Giant Foods' Jamie Miller, manager of public and community relations, said the stores in the region have seen people coming in to buy these items since Monday and they saw a steady flow of traffic Tuesday.

Miller also said business in the areas that will be affected by the storm will see a spike in business Tuesday evening because many customers will stop by to pick up materials on their way home from work.

Here's a shopping list of other items that will help keep you going that require neither cold nor heat to keep and prepare:   

• Peanut butter or similar nut spreads and preserves (jellies, jams) 
• Fresh fruits and vegetables 
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Juices (particularly those that are not commonly found in the refrigerator section of the supermarket).
• Breads, muffins, bagels, tortillas
• Dry cereal or granola
• Powdered or canned milk
• Protein bars and protein shakes, such as Ensure.

See also:

• Snow Storm Prep: Food to Buy
• Snow Update from National Weather Service for Fairfax County: 'Worst-Case Scenario — 12 Inches of Snow'