<p>The arctic blast that hit the Midwest and East Coast had grocers struggling to restock shelves depleted by consumers preparing for the storm. Local retailers in areas like New York are reporting though, that they are operating with only minor supply issues this week, according to the Buffalo News.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Foot traffic slowed dramatically as consumers stayed indoors out of the cold, giving stores a chance to restock shelves and give aisles a thorough cleaning after Monday’s rush in preparation for post-storm shopping. Delivery trucks are continuing to reach stores, though much more slowly than usual. Trucks were sent along alternate routes to avoid Thruway closures. Inbound shipments, especially those coming from the Midwest, have been delayed, posing a challenge for retailers like Wegmans and Tops stores to get some items such as fresh produce.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The bulk of store inventory, which comes from local distribution centers, is well stocked.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>“For these events, it’s really that period of 48 to 72 hours before the weather hits that we’re the busiest, and that is what we gear up for,” said Jo Natale, a spokeswoman for Wegmans. “The only people in stores today are there because there is something they absolutely cannot do without, such as baby formula or medications.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Stores worked with skeleton crews, since driving conditions and driving bans kept some employees off the roads. Other workers were required to stay home with children whose schools were closed for the day.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Tops has a nearly 1-million-square-foot distribution center in Lancaster, while Wegmans has eight distribution centers in Rochester that service its stores in New York State. Tops and Wegmans have teams watching weather forecasts and road conditions to alert the rest of the store’s supply chain should challenges come up.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for updates on weather challenges in the Midwest and along the East Coast.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://mobile.buffalonews.com" target="_new"> The Buffalo News </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
