Insights

Dollar General Q1 sales rise 3.4% to $10.8B, plans 450 stores

Dollar General's 450 new US stores and consumables-led growth open fresh value-tier shelf space for pet food, treats and litter.

By Scott Zhu June 3, 2026 2 min read
Dollar General Q1 sales rise 3.4% to $10.8B, plans 450 stores
Quick answer: Dollar General grew net sales 3.4% to $10.8 billion in its latest quarter and raised full-year guidance, planning about 450 new US stores plus roughly 10 in Mexico. As a top US outlet for value pet food, treats and litter, its expansion adds hundreds of low-income and rural pet shelves.

Dollar General grew net sales 3.4% to $10.8 billion in its latest quarter, with net income of $444.1 million, or $2.00 diluted per share, up from $392 million and $1.78 a year earlier. Same-store sales rose 2%, built on traffic up 1.4% and average ticket up 0.5%, spanning consumables, seasonal, apparel and home categories. Chief executive Todd Vasos credited balanced category performance and the chain’s essential nature.

The discounter raised its full-year guidance for the period ending January 29, 2027, now expecting sales growth of 3.7% to 4.2%, same-store growth of 2.2% to 2.7%, and diluted earnings of $7.20 to $7.45 per share, up from $7.10 to $7.35. Capital plans are sizable: about 4,730 real-estate projects including roughly 450 new US stores, about 10 in Mexico, around 2,000 Project Renovate remodels and about 2,250 Project Elevate upgrades.

Why it matters for the pet industry

Dollar General is already a top US outlet for value pet food, treats, litter and accessories, and 450 new stores plus Mexican expansion mean hundreds of additional low-income and rural shelves where pet consumables compete. The consumables-led same-store gain shows the chain’s traffic is essentials-driven, exactly the pattern that lifts private-label and opening-price-point pet lines. Pet brands should prioritize DG’s value assortment and Mexico entry to capture trip-driven pet replenishment, while specialty and mid-tier players must accept that everyday pet-food dollars are increasingly captured at the dollar channel, raising the bar for differentiation.

What to watch

  • New US store openings should track toward the 450-store fiscal-2026 target across rural and value markets.
  • Pet consumables should drive a growing share of Dollar General same-store basket growth this year.
  • Mexico store launches will test local pet supply assortment and cross-border sourcing for the discounter.

FAQ

How much did Dollar General’s net sales grow last quarter?

Dollar General grew net sales 3.4% to $10.8 billion, with net income of $444.1 million, or $2.00 per diluted share, up from $392 million and $1.78 a year earlier. Same-store sales rose 2%, built on traffic up 1.4% and average ticket up 0.5% across consumables and other categories.

Why is Dollar General a key value channel for pet supplies?

Dollar General is already a top US outlet for value pet food, treats, litter and accessories, and 450 new stores plus Mexican expansion mean hundreds of additional low-income and rural shelves where pet consumables compete. The consumables-led same-store gain shows essentials-driven traffic that lifts private-label and opening-price-point pet lines.

What does Dollar General’s Mexico expansion mean for pet supply?

Pet brands should prioritize Dollar General’s value assortment and Mexico entry to capture trip-driven pet replenishment, while specialty and mid-tier players must accept that everyday pet-food dollars are increasingly captured at the dollar channel. Capital plans include about 4,730 real-estate projects, with 2,000 renovations and 2,250 upgrades.

Source intelligence adapted for the GlobalPetIndex pet-industry audience. Original publication: external brief.

Scott Zhu
Scott Zhu

Senior researcher at GlobalPetIndex, tracking pet business strategy, M&A and brand intelligence.