Family Planning

Family Dollar Stores Inc. (Matthews, N.C.) continued its aggressive expansion program in August, reporting the opening of 71 new stores during the four-week period ended Aug. 31, 2002. The retailer now operates 4616 discount stores.

During the fiscal year ended August 31, the retailer opened 525 stores and closed 50. For its fiscal year beginning Sept. 1, 2002, it plans to open approximately 575 stores and close 50.

The 71 newest store locations are in: Texas (nine), Michigan (six), Louisiana (five), Arizona, Florida, Georgia and New Mexico (four each), New York, Oklahoma and Utah (three each), Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey and Ohio (two each) and Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia (one each).