Dollar General Hits Produce Milestone
Dollar General is now offering fresh produce at more than 5,000 stores across the United States, a milestone company officials said gives it more individual points of distribution for fresh fruits and vegetables than any other U.S. mass retailer or grocer.
The assortment includes the top-20 items typically sold at traditional grocery stores, which covers approximately 80% of the produce categories found at these same retailers.
“We are constantly looking for ways to better serve our customers and one of our top priorities is to ensure the communities we call home have access to fresh, affordable, and convenient food options,” said Emily Taylor, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer at Dollar General. “We have exceeded our goal of having 5,000 total stores with fresh produce by January 2024. We’re proud to leverage our footprint to meet the need for healthy food options in more communities than any other retailer across the U.S.”
Additionally, Dollar General recently invested in a partnership with Shelf Engine, an AI company providing retailers with technology to improve perishable food forecasting and ordering. The partnership will evolve Dollar General’s process to optimize in-stock produce levels, helping automate the ordering process while providing customers with the freshest food possible, company officials said.
The expansion of its product offerings is the latest step in Dollar General’s “Food First” initiative. Announced in 2023, the plan includes the customer feedback-driven expansion of Clover Valley, the retailer’s private label that expanded with the addition of more than 100 items including entrees, sides, sauces, condiments, snacks, and more.
Dollar General also partners with local and national nonprofit organizations, including food banks, as part of its on-going efforts to help alleviate food insecurity. DG’s operational partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization, provides in-kind food donations from stores and distribution centers across the country with a goal to contribute up to 20 million meals each year. To date, Dollar General has donated more than 23 million meals and over $3 million to Feeding America.
