Dollar General: number of stores in the U.S. 2007-2018

Statistic | Dollar General has had explosive growth over the survey period, nearly doubling their store count from 8,194 to 15,370 in 2018. In fact, Dollar General had the most store locations of any retailer in America in 2017. Over the same time period, the corporation’s sales jumped from 9.5 billion to over 25 billion U.S. dollars. Dollar General started as a family-owned business called J.L. Turner in 1939. In 1968, the company changed its name to Dollar General and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Dollar store controversy

Following the 2008 recession, Dollar General expanded rapidly, primarily in economically depressed areas. The company, along with other major dollar store chains, claimed to fill a niche in these communities where the closest grocery store might either be too far or have prices too high for customers. Critics say dollar stores are driving out full-service grocery stores and local businesses, exacerbating economic decline and offering a narrow selection of food with lower nutritional value.

Groceries lead sales

Looking at the merchandise sales of Dollar General, it is indeed the consumables category that is the company’s biggest earner, and its sales are outpacing the rest of the company’s offerings. In 2009, consumables accounted for 70 percent of sales, in 2018 that share had risen to 77 percent.