Grocery stores struggle to keep up with demand as North Texas residents decide to restock pantries

DALLAS – Days spent at home must have emptied a lot of refrigerators and pantries.

Grocery stores across North Texas have been extremely busy, leaving the shelves where staples usually sit empty.

On Friday, shoppers in Dallas felt safe buying groceries after this week’s winter storm. But some were met by long queues and bare shelves.

Cameron Fields left the uptown Walmart Neighborhood Market, but there were still a few items missing from her list.

“I had to park at the end of the parking lot. I felt like everyone had the same idea as me,” she said. “It was hectic. It was terrible. There was almost nothing on the shelves. I didn’t find many of my vegetables. A lot of vegetables are gone.”

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Chilled lunch meats were also out of stock, as were breakfast items including bacon, sausage, orange juice and milk.

The egg compartment was empty and the bread supply was nearly empty.

A similar story was in Tom Thumb at Oak Lawn and Blackburn.

While there was plenty of milk and eggs, the pasta aisle started to look empty.

Richard Standford grabbed one of the last loaves of bread and helped himself to Diet Coke and strawberry ice cream.

“I had no idea because most of us got out today. I had no idea it would be so fast,” he said. “I had cabin fever that I can’t explain.”

Nancy Matlock had more luck than she expected at the busy Walmart on Northwest Highway near Love Field.

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“Cottage cheese. This is my salvation,” she said. “I was very pleasantly surprised.”

However, the sections were still waiting for resupply.

The pantry Patrice Rose was in need of groceries. Even with little choice, she says she’s just glad she finally got out of the house.

“I expected this with ice. The trucks couldn’t do what they needed to do,” she said. “My dad is a truck driver, so I understand the process.”

Even during the mad fever, the employees who were busy replenishing the counters.

Some buyers tried to use the pickup service, but even then, buyers came and found out that some items were out of stock.