Dollar General

CHICAGO — SMS Assist on Tuesday named Geoffrey Wigner EVP facilities for the technology-driven facilities maintenance and management company.

Wigner, 48, previously served as senior director of store services for Dollar General, where he managed more than $500 million in capital and expense budgets while directing major projects affecting more than 10,000 stores. Wigner helped the nationwide retailer open 625 new stores and renovate 525 others in fiscal year 2011. 

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General is adding 635 new stores and relocating 550 this year, the dollar store chain said.

"Dollar General's continued growth reflects our customers' increasing satisfaction with our everyday low prices and convenience," Dollar General chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling said. "Further, 2013 will mark another growth milestone as we plan to open the organization's 11,000th store before the year's end when we will begin our 75th anniversary in 2014."

NEW YORK -- Growth in the consumer products market is likely to slow down over the next five years, while pharmacy retailers will see a profit windfall due to the generic drug cycle, according to a new report.

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.