ROCHESTER, N.Y. – With a major snowstorm looming this weekend, it's time to run to the grocery store for some bread and milk.

Or at least that's the running joke.

Is there really a run on bread and milk during these storms? Why those items? Is it only milk and bread that people are eating during the storm?

Deric West, owner of Honeoye Falls Marketplace in Honeoye Falls, New York, said people do buy bread and milk.

“It is human nature to want to prepare for things," he explained. "I think the bread and the milk are traditional staples (that) have always picked up in snowstorms.”

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But milk and bread are not all that people are buying. West said that salty snacks, beer and beverages also are hitting the carts, noting these would be popular items during the football playoffs taking place Sunday. A somewhat more surprising popular item: shrimp.

"You’re going to be stuck inside with your family," he said. "I think that if people are going to be trapped in the house, they are going to have the foods they enjoy."

Practical winter items like batteries and hand warmers also will sell well, he said.

At Hegedorns Market in Webster, New York, business started picking up Tuesday, and Scott Herrmann, the store manager, expects it to peak Friday.

“We see a big bump in business for snowstorms,” said Herrmann. "Some people just rush out and do quite a bit of shopping."

Milk, eggs, bread and bottled water are picking up, as are rock salt, shovels and windshield wiper fluid. The deli also is selling a lot of cold cuts, and store-baked doughnuts also are a big seller.

“We’ll definitely sell beer too," he said. "You can’t be snowed in without beer.”

Dana Danelle, the manager of Food Towne Market, in Chili, has seen the effects of winter storms from the perspective of a store manager and while working in bread sales.

"The notion of bread and milk – that is true," he said. "People want something that’s going to last a little while in case power goes out.”

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People are also picking up cold cuts, pies and pastries – "anything that’s non-perishable, easy to make, easy to eat," he said.

Jo Natale, vice president of media relations for Wegmans Food Markets, can rattle off the big six items that are in demand during inclement weather: bread, milk, eggs, batteries, candles and ice.

"Everyone is eating French toast because it’s bread, milk and eggs," she said. She noted that people buy ice in case they lose power – but if it's cold enough, the temperature might not be a problem.

Liquor stores also see an uptick in business.

Dan Van Auker, center store field specialist for 31Tops Friendly Marketsstores, said there are five major items that fly off the shelves before a snowstorm: bread, milk, water, bananas and ground beef. "We can't make enough or have enough of them," he said. Sodas, chips and beer also are big sellers.

Most of the store managers and owners acknowledged that the purchases that come before a snowstorm are often based more on emotion than on need, because many people have enough supplies in the house to survive for a couple of days. But they welcome the business.

"We love it," said Van Auker. "We love the panic buy. We love the panic buy when the storm doesn’t come.”

Follow Tracy Schumacher on Twitter: @RahChaChow