Skip navigation

Dollar General

Dollar General is the twelfth-largest supermarket by sales with almost $34 billion in 2021 sales and over 16,000 stores in the U.S. The Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based chain’s concept was inspired by retailers’ “Dollar Day” promotions in the 1950’s. Cal Turner turned his one of his father’s 35 department stores into the first Dollar General in 1955.

Dollar General Corporation went public in 1968 and was family-run until the early 2000’s when Cal Turner’s son, who had led the chain as a third-generation Turner, retired and David Perdue was hired.

In 2003, Dollar General began selling groceries when it established Dollar General Market. A few years later, when Perdue left and an interim CEO was in charge, the company was purchased by a group of private equity investors in 2007.

Just two years later, the chain filed for its initial public offering of $750 million, making the chain public once again.

The store’s concept was to sell goods at a low cost (close to aa dollar initially) but it’s grown to sell groceries, serve as distribution centers, have its own private label and more.

Dollar General currently has stores in 46 states. The company’s former COO, Todd Vasos, became CEO in 2015 and has held the role since.

Key Data: Dollar General

Headquarters: Goodlettsville, Tennessee

U.S. Retail Banners: Dollar General

2020 Sales: $34 billion

2020 Store Locations: 16,285

Annual Growth (Top 50)

CEO: Todd Vasos

Source: Dollar General