Grocery stores gear up for Thanksgiving rush

CHARLOTTE — Customers are being told to prepare for possible shortages at grocery stores nationwide.

Kroger, which owns Harris Teeter, announced Monday it would start limiting certain cleaning items to two per customers, such as toilet paper, paper towels and disinfectant wipes.

Harris Teeter officials said they have similar limits and will continue to monitor the situation.

Turkey is a staple for a Thanksgiving Day feast, but some local grocery stores are worried the possible shortages could affect their inventory for such items.

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Customers at Giant Penny in north Charlotte can’t currently find the popular item.

“Usually by this time of year, we have already got our price together, our items together, what we are going to carry for the holiday,” said Loc Tran, the owner of Giant Penny. “But this is not a typical year.”

Tran said they’re expecting their holiday shipment to arrive Tuesday, but he doesn’t know what or how much they will get.

“Turkeys are in short demand this year,” Tran said. “We sell a lot of by pork product and beef product that we can’t get this year, and it’s because of the pandemic. There aren’t enough people in the plant to process it, so that’s what we tell our customers.”

[Reports: Grocery stores already stockpiling ahead of holiday rush]

Giant Penny doesn’t plan to limit certain items, but they do keep things, such as hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, behind a glass case because of the demand.

“If you see an item that you want to get for the holiday, go ahead and get it because when the holiday comes, it may not be there,” Tran said.

Reports: Grocery stores already stockpiling ahead of holiday rush

Cox Media Group