Dollar General Continues Growth Plan into 2011

Goodlettsville-based Dollar General announced plans today to open more than 600 stores this year, topping a string of high-growth years.

Dollar General opened 500 stores in 2009, 600 last year and now has plans for 625 in 2011.

The discount retailer already has more stores than any other chain in the U.S. It operates in 35 states and has plans to expand its footprint into three more this year: Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire.

CEO Rick Dreiling says in a statement that he believes the communities his company is entering will benefit from new jobs.

This year’s planned expansion is supposed to create 6,000 positions in the respective communities. According to Dollar General, that would mean more than 15,000 jobs created since 2009.

The fast growing discount chain has been able to keep profits up even while investing in the business. Dollar General turned in a record quarter to start the current fiscal year.