Go Fourth and bake a pie

If the weather cooperates, New England's largest grocery chains says it's more than ready for the July 4th barbecue rush. Stop & Shop Cos. Inc., a division of Dutch grocery giant Royal Ahold NV, expects its 376 stores to outdo last year's sales when it comes to grilling supplies. As a reference point, last year the chain sold:

-- 220 tons of charcoal
-- 240,000 bamboo skewers
-- 250 tons of American cheese
-- 185,000 pounds of potato salad
-- 51,000 pounds of macaroni salad
-- 44,000 pounds of cole slaw

Though the company says it doesn't expect to run out of anything, "obviously the sooner you get there, the better choice you’re going to have," said spokesman Robert Keane. Stop & Shop operates 120 stores in Massachusetts.
(Globe staff)