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.

But I wondered, 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?

Honeoye Falls Marketplace

“Is it real? Do people come in and buy bread and milk? They do," said Deric West, owner of Honeoye Falls Marketplace.

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

But milk and bread are not all that people are buying. West said that salty snacks, beer and beverages are also hitting the carts, noting these would be popular items during the football playoffs taking place on 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 will also sell well, he said.

Hegedorns Market

At Hegedorns Market in Webster, business started picking up on Tuesday, and Scott Herrmann, 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.”

More:Rochester area will get the worst of major weekend storm

Food Towne Market

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.”

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

Wegmans Food Markets

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.

Marketview Liquor

"It’s probably not as much as a grocery store but we get busy," said Michael Palmieri, owner of Marketview Liquor in Henrietta. "Part of it is panic."

Unlike grocery stores, people aren't visiting for a particular item, he said. Spirits drinkers generally stop in to buy their favorite brands, while wine buyers are more flexible.

Tops Friendly Markets

Dan Van Auker, center store field specialist for 31 Tops Friendly Markets stores, 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 are also 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.”

TRACYS@Gannett.com