Dollar General to Speed Up Openings After Sales Rose

Bloomberg reports that stellar sales have lead Dollar General executives to speed up store openings around the United States. In a tough economy, Dollar General is seeing gains as shoppers look to save pennies at the grocery and home goods retailer. Wal-Mart and McDonald's have also seen a large gain in stock prices--and in profits as the United States sinks deeper into recession. According to Bloomberg, Dollar General bought by private equity firm KKR & Co. in 2007 for $7.3 billion, plans to open about 450 new stores in 2009 and remodel or relocate about 400 others. In fiscal 2008, it opened 207 new stores, relocated or remodeled 404, and closed 39, ending the year with 8,362 U.S. locations.

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Dollar General and Toys R Us Investor: No Bailouts

According to Reuters, Henry Kravis, CEO of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co said that his company was looking for alternative investment opportunities during this rough financial climate, instead of a bailout. The Berlin based organization, who has investments in Toys R Us, Sealy, Alliance Boots and Dollar General said that there would be rough roads ahead but a "ray of sunshine" for their organization lies in the substantial level of new investment grade debt issued in the United States over the last few weeks without a government guarantee -- the first time in many months. Kravis said, "It is another indication that maybe things are starting to get better." According to Reuters, corporate debt has enjoyed an eight-week rally as investors shifted out of stocks for high-yielding corporate debt. U.S. corporate bond spreads are at their tightest levels in months.


How do you think these changes in investments will trickle down to the stores and to the shopper?