Dollar General: Driving Food Accessibility and Value in Communities That Need It Most

Origins:

Every day, millions of Americans rely on Dollar General (DG) for convenient access to affordable essentials. With more than 21,000 stores across 48 states, DG has helped remove barriers that often define rural food deserts; turning proximity into a powerful driver for food accessibility. Approximately 80% of DG stores serve communities of 20,000 or fewer people – often where other retailers either cannot or choose not to operate – uniquely positioning the retailer to help fill critical food-access gaps through nutritious food products at an affordable price. DG’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and increasing access to more affordable food options can be seen through many initiatives including:

• Annual support and ongoing partnership with Feeding America combining resources of the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization and the nation’s largest retailer by store count to meet food-insecure Americans where they are, including over 14 million children.
• Engagement with key stakeholders including local policymakers, national nonprofits, media partners and community organizations to educate and amplify impact of local and national food accessibility initiatives.
• Expansion of fresh produce in stores and introduction of a value-focused frozen food section, featuring net-new items at the $1 price point, broadening access to affordable and convenient options. DG continually evolves its unwavering focus on mitigating food insecurity every day. Its growth, offerings and community partnerships help ensure that DG customers have access to affordable ingredients needed to create a nourishing meal.

Contribution:

• Through its Feeding America partnership, DG has invested more than $6 million in donations and provides critical in-kind support by leveraging its retail and distribution network to supply food directly to local food banks across the U.S. The program now serves more than half of U.S. counties, resulting in the equivalent of more than 90 million meals since 2019.
• DG also maintains a deep commitment to affordability, offering 450+ in-store items priced at $1 or less, including new private label products and an expanded frozen section.
• Customers and elected officials regularly request DG stores for their communities. Answering the call to serve, DG added or remodeled stores to provide fresh produce in Butler, PA; Fruitdale, AL; Little Rock, AR; Evansville, IN; and Hitchcock, TX, among many others.
• DG actively convenes leaders across the food access, community development and education sectors to discuss and collaborate on scalable solutions for food insecurity.

Objectives:

At the heart of DG’s Serving Others mission is its commitment to creating a positive impact in communities. To deliver on this promise, DG prioritizes opening pathways to affordable, nutritious food options for millions of Americans. As 75% of the U.S. lives within five miles of a DG store, DG is a vital resource – especially to those in food deserts – offering access to affordable foods. The following objectives guide DG’s food security strategy:

• Scaling support: Build upon the more than 90 million meals already donated to neighbors in need through DG’s Feeding America partnership by expanding efforts and increasing impact.
• Meeting needs: Strategically locate, remodel or relocate stores to best fit community needs – especially in areas with limited options.
• Delivering value: Balance innovation with affordability through opening price point solutions – such as the $1 frozen food expansion – to ensure budget-conscious shoppers can confidently put meals on the table.

Impact:

Across the U.S., more than 48 million individuals live in food-insecure households. As DG grows, it continues to uphold its commitment to Serving Others by prioritizing initiatives that bring more nutritious, affordable options to the customers and hometown communities relying on the retailer for solutions. In 2019, DG aligned its expansive retail and distribution infrastructure with the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief network, Feeding America. Combining Feeding America's established system of food banks and partner agencies across the country with DG's vast store and distribution center footprint, the collaboration created a scalable and essential pipeline of food assistance in rural communities across the country. In 2025, DG expanded its produce offering to more than 7,000 store locations nationwide – 1,300 of which are located in USDA-designated food deserts. Now, DG provides fresh ingredients in more store locations than any other mass retailer or grocer in the U.S. Beyond charitable partnerships, DG brings its work combatting food insecurity directly to the shelf by investing in affordable product assortments. The introduction of an expanded frozen section with a full door of dedicated items at the $1 price point directly lowers financial barriers, offering budget-conscious households greater variety and convenience without compromising on value. From in-store innovation to partnerships, DG is addressing food insecurity at every level, and its growing footprint means its impact will only expand further.

Quote:

“Food insecurity impacts people of all ages in communities across the country. With our extensive store footprint, often in communities’ others cannot of have chosen not to serve, Dollar General is uniquely positioned to help combat hunger by offering convenient access to a variety of nutritious foods at affordable prices. At Dollar General, we pride ourselves on the role we play as America’s neighborhood general store and have pursued opportunities to serve and support our communities, customers, neighbors, and each other.” – Todd Vasos, CEO, Dollar General

Support Statement:

After seeing a neighboring community’s Dollar General with fresh produce, Mayor Chris Armacost reached out asking for the addition of produce to their local store. Located between Galveston and Houston, Hitchcock’s local grocer closed more than 10 years ago, leaving residents to travel more than 12 miles each way for fresh food. “When we first heard that Dollar General was going to bring in produce, it was something that a lot of people really appreciated,” said Morris Tuck, Hitchcock City Council Member. “It seems like a simple thing, but a lot of people were glad to hear that we would have something that was not always available to us. To think that a corporation that’s already here in town could help is something that we all really appreciate.”