Dollar General announced a very ambitious expansion plan by 2026. The company will open 450 new stores in the U.S. and will carry out thousands of renovations to strengthen its presence in rural communities. With this plan, the company wants to improve its customers’ experience, offer more fresh products, and become the largest dollar store in the country. So, let’s find out more about what Dollar General is going to do.
Dollar General and new stores next year
During its third-quarter earnings report, Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General, confirmed that the company will open 450 new stores in fiscal year 2026, which ends on January 29, 2027. Currently, Dollar General operates almost 21,000 stores, maintaining a clear advantage over its main competitor, Dollar Tree, which has around 16,500 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
The main focus of this expansion plan is small communities,since about 80% of the current stores serve populations of 20,000 people or fewer. Most of the new stores will be 8,500 square feet, a format designed to improve the availability of refrigerated foods and essential products in these areas.
Dollar General real estate
The new 450 stores are part of a wider plan involving about 4,730 real estate projects by 2026, among all of them we can find:
- 2,000 full remodels under the Project Renovate program
- 2,250 partial remodels as part of Project Elevate
- 10 new stores in Mexico, continuing international expansion
- 20 store relocations, mostly to larger 8,500 or 9,500-square-foot formats
This year, Dollar General has already opened 575 stores in the U.S., and 196 out of all of them started to operate in the third quarter alone. According to Vasos, these updates will allow more display space for frozen foods, fresh produce, and health and beauty products, improving the customer experience and making essential products more accessible.
More fresh food
Dollar General is also expanding its fresh food offerings, a service that’s become more necessary in communities with limited access to supermarkets, known as ‘’food deserts’’.
Currently, the company offers fruit and vegetables in 7,000 stores, but it’s expected to add 200 more with this category by 2026. This means that more people could find fresh products near where they live, which is really important in rural areas.
Competition
The growth of Dollar General happens while other competitors are facing some difficulties. For example, Family Dollar, which was acquired by Dollar Tree in 2015, has experienced financial issues and had to close almost 700 stores last year.
In March of 2025, Dollar Tree sold Family Dollar to Brigade Capital and Macellum Capital for $1 billion, as part of its strategy to leave behind struggling operations. This leaves Dollar General in a very strong position, solidifying its role as the largest and most reliable dollar store chain in the U.S., particularly in small and rural communities.
So…
Dollar General’s 2026 expansion isn’t just about opening new stores—it is about reaching more communities, bringing fresh products closer to people, and making everyday essentials accessible where they’re needed most.
By focusing on rural towns and small populations, the company is not only growing its footprint but also strengthening its connection with customers who may have few other options nearby.
With thousands of renovations and new stores, Dollar General is proving that it’s more than a dollar store chain—it is becoming a trusted part of everyday life for millions of Americans, shaping how communities shop for essentials in the years to come. Do you think Dollar General’s plan is a good idea?