Triad Stores Struggle to Restock Supplies Amid Winter Storms

Grocery and hardware stores face shortages of essential winter items as back-to-back weather events deplete inventories.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 7:31pm

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Stores across the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina are working to restock depleted supplies of food, ice melt, and other winter essentials as they brace for another potential winter storm. Grocery stores like Bestway Grocery Company and hardware stores like McKnight Hardware are reporting shortages of key items, leading some customers to experiment with alternative solutions like using fertilizer as an ice melt.

Why it matters

The back-to-back winter weather events have put a significant strain on local supply chains, testing the resilience of small businesses and the ability of communities to prepare for and respond to severe winter conditions. The shortages highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and the need for robust local supply networks to withstand disruptions.

The details

Bestway Grocery Company is expecting a large delivery to help restock depleted shelves, while hardware stores like McKnight Hardware are running low on essential winter supplies like snow shovels, sleds, and ice melt. With traditional ice melt in short supply, employees at McKnight are encouraging customers to try using fertilizer as an alternative, as the nitrogen content can help melt ice. Local officials report varying salt supplies, with Winston-Salem having around 2,000 tons on hand, Burlington with roughly 300 tons, and Greensboro's inventory fluctuating daily.

  • Last weekend's winter storm depleted local supplies.
  • Another potential winter storm is looming over the Triad region.

The players

Bestway Grocery Company

A local grocery store in the Piedmont Triad region that is working to restock depleted shelves after the recent winter storms.

McKnight Hardware

A local hardware store in the Triad region that is facing shortages of essential winter supplies like snow shovels, sleds, and ice melt.

North Carolina Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for maintaining and replenishing salt supplies, reporting more than 150,000 tons statewide to handle the expected winter weather.

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What they’re saying

“Tomorrow we do have a big truck coming in that will hopefully fill some of these empty shelves. We're trying to make sure we have all the essentials.”

— Justis Tucker, Manager, Bestway Grocery Company

“Snow shovels, MIA, sleds are MIA, ice melt, for the most part, is MIA.”

— Chad Winfree, Store Manager, McKnight Hardware

“What started first of the week, a lot of old timers remember, you can use fertilizer as an ice melt, and there are some people that are that have started doing that this week. The nitrogen content in there will melt the ice, and it's good for your garden.”

— Chad Winfree, Store Manager, McKnight Hardware

“I came in here looking for salt or ice melt too, but they had neither, so the guy said fertilizer, and I'm like, are you serious, fertilizer, so we gonna see if it works — science experiment.”

— TJ Jefferson

What’s next

Local officials and businesses will continue to monitor supply levels and work to replenish essential winter items as the region braces for the next potential winter storm.

The takeaway

The supply chain challenges faced by local stores in the Triad region highlight the importance of emergency preparedness and the need for robust local supply networks to withstand disruptions caused by severe weather events. The creative solutions, like using fertilizer as an ice melt, demonstrate the resourcefulness of small businesses and communities in the face of adversity.