Busy day for area supermarkets

GREEN BAY - One of the largest shopping days of the year is still a couple days away.

But area grocery stores say Wednesday is also one for the books, calling it one of the busiest grocery shopping days of the year.

In fact one area grocer says sales more than double the day before Thanksgiving.

Barbara Werkheiser of Green Bay is gearing up to cook her 47th Thanksgiving dinner.

"Oh I love to cook, that's my day all day," Werkheiser said. "I start stocking up about 2 to 3 weeks ahead of time. I got my turkey in the refrigerator de-frosting and I get little piles of things out so I know what I have to get at the last minute."

Werkheiser was one of thousands estimated to come through the Festival Foods doors Wednesday.

And by late afternoon the registers and aisles were filling up.

"Very busy, hard to find a parking spot, picked up a few things for tomorrow's dinner, but very busy," explained Diane Dansereau of Cecil.

"We enjoy the extra traffic," said store director Jon Wieser.

Wieser says at least 40 extra employees are scheduled to man the check outs and restock the shelves the day before Thanksgiving.

Wieser says sales more than double compared to a normal day.

"It's about what we're used to, you know, we expect to be as busy as it was and each year we hope for more," Wieser said.

But he says traffic is steady, even a few days before Thanksgiving.

In total, the store goes through at least two-truck loads of turkeys prior to the holiday.

"A lot of people coming from out-of-town, visiting their parents, grandparents, and getting together with their families," Wieser explained.

And that's exactly what Barbara Werkheiser is preparing for.

Despite fighting the crowds and the long-hours in front of the stove, she says it's all worth it.

"It's a great day and I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving," Werkheiser said.