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UPDATED | Salt flies off the shelves at Valley stores
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Home Depot employees Jeannie Mottram and Cherrie Childs load salt into Linda Reed’s truck Tuesday afternoon in Austintown.
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
The 50-pound yellow bags of rock salt steadily started to diminish from their pallets at the Home Depot in Austintown in the early afternoon Tuesday.
Customers such as Linda Reed of Youngstown, who searched for two weeks to find salt, stocked up on the item that — at this point — has a high demand and low supply.
For the icy areas around her house she bought four bags “just in case I can’t find it again,” she said.
Home Depot, Lowe’s, Giant Eagle and other stores all have varying inventories of rock salt.
Home Depot in Austintown got a shipment of rock salt Tuesday. The 15 pallets are expected to last until Saturday.
“Severe weather this winter has caused a high demand for salt, ice melt, shovels and other winter supplies in numerous markets,” said Matt Harrigan, a spokesman for Home Depot. “Some stores can sell through items temporarily, but our supply chain and merchandising teams work closely together to replenish them.”
Home Depot in Boardman also had an emergency order in place Tuesday.
Lowe’s in Boardman received a shipment of rock salt and as of this morning had 13 palettes left. The manager hopes to have more in this week. On Monday, the store sold out of 180 bags. As soon as it comes off the truck, it seems to go out the door, the manager said.
“It is in demand,” said Brian Heckert, store manager for the Boardman Lowe’s.
Lowe’s corporate office expects to see its local stores receive shipments.
“We work with our suppliers to quickly replenish store shelves with many different types of emergency products to help during preparation and recovery,” said Natalie Turner, a spokeswoman for Lowe’s Companies Inc.
Morton Salt, a supplier to Lowe’s stores, had a high demand for ice-melt products, Morton Salt spokeswoman Denise Lauer said.
“Even before the winter started, the demand was high,” she said. “Customers wanted to stock up early because of last season.”
Morton is still supplying its rock salt, blended ice-melt products and third-party products for consumers. Morton also supplies bulk road salt to municipalities.
Several Sparkle markets in the area, including the Cornersburg and South Avenue locations, were sold out of rock salt Tuesday.
Nemenz IGA in Struthers also was sold out.
Giant Eagle locations had varying amounts throughout the region.
“We are working very closely with our supply partners to make as much product available as possible,” said Dan Donovan, marketing manager, corporate communications, for Giant Eagle.
Consumers have a list of alternatives they can use outside of rock salt including a product called Road Runner ice melt, water-softener salt or sand.