Dollar General

COMMERCE, Calif. — Fueled by strong store growth and increased household penetration, dollar stores have been stepping outside of their comfort zone in pursuit of consumer trips that have historically belonged to retail pharmacy. 

 WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — It appears that even when the economy gets back to humming on all cylinders that America’s shopping patterns will have been forever changed, and that's only going to support dollar store growth for years to come. Clearly, the two biggest competitors in Family Dollar and Dollar General are ramping up store growth all over the country, with the two companies lining up on opposite corners much the way drug chains began had done in the '80s and '90s.

At first blush, there appears to be nothing special about Dollar General’s first Southern California store in the suburb of Montclair. It occupies about 7,500 sq. ft. of space in an aging strip center, and a small banner hung on the exterior beckons to passing motorists and pedestrians, “Now Open.” Inside, more signs explain the bare-bones merchandising of familiar brands to shoppers unfamiliar with the Dollar General value proposition.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General has awarded grants to more than 593 nonprofit organizations, libraries and schools through the chain's literacy foundation.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded grants to schools and organizations in communities across the 39 states served by Dollar General. The funding, valued at more than $6.4 million, supports such programs as adult literacy, GED preparation and English language acquisition. Dollar General said more than 410,300 people are expected to benefit from literacy services provided by the grants.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General has pledged its support of the White House's Joining Forces initiative, which promotes private sector employment for members of the military community.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — One of Dollar General's first stores in California also has the distinction of being the retailer's 10,000th store, the company said.

Dollar General announced Friday that its landmark store, located in Merced, Calif., has given the retailer a coast-to-coast presence for the first time in the company's history.

GOODLETSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General's quarterly profit surged 33% to a record $299 million, from $226 million in the prior year.

Sales increased 20.1% to $4.19 billion, compared with $3.49 billion in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 6.5%.

For the full year, profit rose 26% to $819 million, from $649 million in 2010. Sales surged 13.6% to $14.8 billion, from $13 billion last year. Same-store sales rose 6%.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — A former Safeway executive has joined Dollar General as its EVP store operations.

Effective March 19, Greg Sparks will assume all responsibilities for the operations of more than 9,900 retail stores in 38 states and serve on Dollar General's real estate and store development committee, the company said. Sparks will report to chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling.

Sparks most recently served as president of Safeway's Seattle division. His departure from the supermarket retailer was announced earlier this week.