GOODLETTSVILLE, TN - A huge milestone has occurred at Dollar General. As it continues to drive forward its commitment to fresh produce, the retailer announced that it now offers fresh options in more than 5,000 stores across the country.

“We are constantly looking for ways to better serve our customers and one of our top priorities is to ensure the communities we call home have access to fresh, affordable, and convenient food options,” said Emily Taylor, Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. “We have exceeded our goal of having 5,000 total stores with fresh produce by January 2024. We’re proud to leverage our footprint to meet the need for healthy food options in more communities than any other retailer across the U.S.”

This strategy was first announced last year and since then, Dollar General has made great strides to reach this milestone. The retailer asserted in a press release that it has more individual points of produce distribution than any other U.S. mass retailer or grocer, and that its stores offer a curated assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes, and more.

To further support its fresh department, Dollar General also invested in a partnership with Shelf Engine, an AI company providing retailers with technology to improve perishable food forecasting and ordering. The partnership will evolve Dollar General’s process to optimize in-stock produce levels, helping automate the ordering process while providing customers with the freshest food possible.

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With this fresh-forward strategy at the helm, what will Dollar General bring next? ANUK will be here to report.