Dollar General Expands Popshelf Concept

Dollar General (Goodlettsville, Tenn.) announced it will build bigger stores and expand Popshelf, a new chain aimed at higher income, suburban customers, reports CNBC. The company plans to open 1050 stores, remodel 1750 sites and relocate 100 others.

As it builds new stores, shoppers will see larger sales floors and more merchandise. They’ll also notice more branding for Popshelf, which the retailer debuted in the fall. The company is testing both new locations and using the brand to create a store within a store.

Chief Operating Officer Jeff Owen says the retailer estimates it could add as many as 17,000 stores across the country — a move that would roughly double its footprint.

As Dollar General adds, remodels and relocates stores, Owen says, it will increase the square footage of its sales floor to make more room for coolers of produce and fresh meat, a bigger assortment of health and beauty products and additional checkout lanes.

Dollar General plans to have 50 Popshelf stores by the end of the fiscal year, more than its original goal of 30, Owen says.