Grocers stock up

The fireworks are cancelled, but the food is a go.

Amidst absent fireworks locally, employees of grocery stores across town are stocking up and staffing up in preparation for the holiday, because they are projecting sales equal to last year’s Independence day — despite the economy.

“[Independence Day] falls on the weekend, it’s a long weekend,” Enrique Zuniga, store director for Food 4 Less said. “It’s the first weekend of the month so people have money.”

For the markets and their customers, this weekend is all about the barbecue.

“This is the busiest barbecue weekend of the year,” Save Mart store manager Kevin Pope said.

Pope oversees the Save Mart at 900 W. Henderson Ave.

In addition to 700 packages of hot dog buns in stock (compared to the 150 typically sold weekly), quadruple the regular beer supply is ready to hit the check out stands, he said.

The Nielsen Company recently reported that July Fourth continues to be the biggest beer-selling holiday. Twenty four million cases of beer were sold in supermarkets nationally, ultimately generating $190 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

Managers say it is too soon to tell exactly how much watermelon, paper products, hamburger, hot dogs, etc., they will actually sell. In addition, most said they did not expect sales to pick up until today.

"We are ready for it,” Zuniga said.

These managers are carrying on despite the fears that led to the cancellation of Porterville’s firework show — the recession.

“Sales during the regular weeks have been down,” Pope said. “But the holidays usually pick up around here.”

Save Mart and Food 4 Less are open on Independence Day. Food 4 Less is open 24 hours and Save Marts will be open 6 a.m. to midnight.

-- Contact Jenna Chandler at 784-5000, Ext. 1050 or, jchandler@portervillerecorder.com