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The History of Dollar General
Founded in 1939 as J.L. Turner & Son, a wholesale business in Scottsville, Ky., Dollar General is a $9.2 billion company and the leader in the dollar store segment, with more than 8,000 stores.
The company pioneered the dollar store concept in 1955, opening retail stores that sold all items for $1. The format was extremely successful, boosting the company’s sales to $25.8 million by 1965. A few years later in 1968, the company launched its initial public stock offering and changed its name to Dollar General. In 2007, Dollar General became a private company after being acquired by affiliates of the private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co., L.P.
Today, Dollar General continues to strengthen its position as a consumer-driven distributor of consumable basics. The company’s mission is simply to serve others. Dollar General carries out its mission by making value and convenience the hallmarks of its business strategy.
- Thirty percent of Dollar General’s merchandise is still priced at $1 or less.
- With small stores averaging 6,900 square feet, Dollar General stores feature a focused assortment of highly consumable merchandise, making shopping for basic necessities simple and hassle-free.
- Dollar General stores are concentrated in under-served rural and urban neighborhoods.
Dollar General considers the needs of its customers and the issues important to them and their families. An ardent supporter of literacy and education, Dollar General has served more than 50,000 people through its literacy referral program.
During fiscal year 2006 (ended February 2, 2007), Dollar General opened 537 new stores.
For a complete historical timeline click here.
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General Information
The Company
Dollar General is a customer-driven distributor of consumable basics with more than 8,000 stores in 35 states. Stores are served by nine distribution centers in: Alachua, Fla.; Scottsville, Ky.; Indianola, Miss.; Fulton, Mo.; Zanesville, Ohio; Ardmore, Okla.; Jonesville, S.C., South Boston, Va. and Marion, Ind.
Mission Statement
Serving Others
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For Customers…A Better Life
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For Investors…A Superior Return
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For Employees…Respect and Opportunity
Diversity Mission Statement
We recognize that diversity is a business imperative. We demonstrate our commitment to inclusion through:
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Recruitment, hiring and development of employees;
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Selection of suppliers and vendors;
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Serving the needs of our customers; and
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The Company's mission and business strategy.
Employees
Dollar General employs more than 69,000 people. The average Dollar General store has approximately six to 10 employees, including the store manager.
Merchandise
Dollar General Stores sell consumable basic goods, items that are frequently used and replenished by our customers. These include paper products, cleaning supplies, health and beauty aids, foods/snacks, housewares, toys and basic apparel. Our stores also offer a variety of seasonal items.
Markets Served
Dollar General Stores are primarily located in communities of less than 20,000 people or in selected locations within larger metropolitan areas. Many of the Company's customers earn a small paycheck or depend on monthly government assistance. A considerable number are retired.
Annual Sales
In fiscal year ended February 2, 2007, Dollar General's then 8,309 stores generated more than $9.2 billion in sales.
Community Support
Dollar General heavily supports national literacy efforts. In September 1987, the company launched an ongoing campaign that gives functionally illiterate and under-educated adults a single, approachable place to find out about GED and Learn-To-Read programs in their areas. To date, more than 50,000 people have been served. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation provides grants to non-profit organizations throughout our 35 states committed to the advancement of literacy.
Corporate Office
100 Mission Ridge
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
(615) 855-4000
Store Count
The numbers below indicate number of stores per state as of December 31, 2007.
| 445 |
| 49 |
| 224 |
| 19 |
| 24 |
| 421 |
| 464 |
| 308 |
| 301 |
| 170 |
| 145 |
| 300 |
| 325 |
| 58 |
| 242 |
| 16 |
| 258 |
| 305 |
| 82 |
| 22 |
| 42 |
| 227 |
| 464 |
| 462 |
| 271 |
| 394 |
| 315 |
| 12 |
| 402 |
| 975 |
| 9 |
| 1 |
| 245 |
| 147 |
| 87 |
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Company Management
| Richard W. Dreiling |
| David L. Beré |
| David M. Tehle |
| Kathleen Guion |
| Beryl J. Buley |
| Susan S. Lanigan |
| Challis M. Lowe |
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Richard W. Dreiling
Richard W. Dreiling is chief executive officer of Dollar General.
Before joining Dollar General in January 2008, Richard (“Rick”) W. Dreiling was president and chief executive officer of Duane Reade Holdings, Inc., the leading drug store chain in the New York City metropolitan area since November 2005. He was named chairman in March 2007.
Prior to his tenure with Duane Reade, Dreiling served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Longs Drug Stores Corporation, a chain of retail drug stores on the West Coast and Hawaii, starting there in 2003. Before that, he was executive vice president of marketing, manufacturing and distribution of Safeway, Inc., a food and drug retailer. Earlier still, he served as president of Vons, a Southern California food and drug division of Safeway, Inc.
Dreiling earned a bachelor's degree in industrial relations from Rockhurst University in Missouri. He began his career in 1969 as a part-time clerk with Safeway, Inc. in Kansas and he worked his way through the retail ranks before being promoted in 1998 to president of Vons. Dreiling serves on the board of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) and the board of directors of Chain Drug Consortium, LLC. Dreiling was a finalist in Ernst & Young’s 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards for the Metro New York area. In October 2007, Dreiling received the Jacob K. Javits Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his efforts to raise awareness for The ALS Association and support their work to find a cure for the disease. He was also a recipient of the 2006 Human Rights Award given by the Jewish Labor Committee in recognition of his efforts to promote the shared social justice agenda between the AJC and the trade union movement, and they honored him again in October 2006 as their "Person of the Year."
He and his wife, Ellen, have a son, RJ and a daughter, Amy. Dreiling’s hobbies are reading, golfing, and he is an avid race car fan.
David L. Beré
David Beré was appointed president and chief operating officer of Dollar General in December 2006. He has been a director of Dollar General since 2002.
Beré served from December 2003 until June 2005 as corporate vice president of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. and as the president and chief executive officer of Bakery Chef, Inc., a leading manufacturer of frozen bakery products that was acquired by Ralcorp Holdings in December 2003. From 1998 until the acquisition, Beré was the president and chief executive officer of Bakery Chef, Inc., and also served on its Board of Directors. From 1996 to 1998, Beré served as president and chief executive officer of McCain Foods USA, a manufacturer and marketer of frozen foods and a subsidiary of McCain Foods Limited. He spent 17 years at The Quaker Oats Company where he served as president of the Breakfast Division and the Golden Grain Division.
In 1983, he was appointed White House Fellow by President Ronald Reagan. Beré earned both his bachelor’s degree and master of business administration degree from Indiana University.
David M. Tehle
David Tehle is executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Prior to joining Dollar General in June 2004, Tehle spent seven years with Haggar Corporation as executive vice president and chief financial officer. He has held leadership positions with several world leaders in manufacturing, including vice president of finance for The Stanley Works, Mechanics Tools Division, and vice president of finance and chief financial officer for Hat Brands, Inc. Tehle gained 12 years of financial experience through management positions at Ryder System, Inc., and various financial and accounting positions at Texas Instruments, Inc.
Tehle earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan.
He has served as a director of Jack in the Box, Inc., since December 2004.
Kathleen R. Guion
Kathleen Guion is division president of store operations and store development.
At Dollar General, Guion oversees more than 8,000 stores in 35 states and 69,500 employees company-wide. Dollar General Corporation generated sales of $9.2 billion in fiscal year 2006.
Assuming her current role in April 2005, Guion previously served as executive vice president of store operations. Prior to joining Dollar General in October 2003, she served as president and chief executive officer of Duke and Long Distributing Company, a convenience store chain operator and wholesale distributor of petroleum products. Prior to that time, she was an operating partner for Devon Partners (1999-2000), where she developed operating plans and assisted in the identification of acquisition targets in the convenience store industry. Additionally, Guion served as president and chief operating officer of E-Z Serve Corporation (1997 to 1998), an owner/operator of convenience stores, mini-marts and gas marts. From 1987 to 1997, Guion served as the vice president and general manager of the largest division (Chesapeake Division) of company-owned stores at 7-Eleven, Inc., a convenience store chain. Other positions held by Guion during her tenure at 7-Eleven include district manager, zone manager, operations manager and division manager (Midwest Division).
Beryl J. Buley
Beryl Buley is division president of merchandising, marketing and supply chain.
Prior to joining Dollar General in 2005, Buley served as the executive vice president of retail operations at Mervyn’s, where he oversaw store operations, distribution centers, visual merchandising and planning, asset protection, real estate and construction. He also served as the executive vice president and general manager of retail operations for Sears, Roebuck and Company. Prior to Sears, Buley spent 15 years at Kohl’s Department Stores in a number of executive roles, including executive vice president of stores.
Buley earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma.
Susan S. Lanigan
Susan Lanigan is executive vice president, general counsel.
Lanigan joined Dollar General in July 2002 as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary.
Previously, Lanigan was senior vice president, general counsel and associate general counsel with Zale Corporation, a specialty retailer of fine jewelry. Her legal experience also includes positions with Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., and Troutman Sanders law firm.
Lanigan received her undergraduate and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia Law, respectively.
Lanigan is a director on the board of the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.
Challis M. Lowe
Challis Lowe is executive vice president of human resources.
Throughout her 30-year career, Lowe has been responsible for various business lines including human resources, corporate communications, public affairs, administration services, information technology, quality management, commercial leasing operations and commercial and consumer lending. She brings extensive experience in change management as well as in the sale and integration of major businesses. Prior to joining Dollar General in September 2005, Lowe was executive vice president for Ryder System, Inc., Beneficial Management Corporation and Heller International; senior vice president of Sanwa Business Credit Corporation; and vice president of Continental Illinois Leasing Corporation and Continental Bank.
Lowe earned her MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She is currently a director of The South Financial Group, a $14 billion regional bank; she previously chaired the Board of Trustees of Florida A&M University.
