As far as history is concerned with retailing, no one seems to understand the concept of “Does Dollar General have the most locations?” With its fast-paced expansion and constant new store flagships, Dollar General sometimes referred to as DG, has pretty much branded itself. With the selling of a wide range of items at extremely low prices, DG has converted its convenience stores into a retailing giant. In so far as trying to analyze if the company operates the most outlets, the focus will shift to how Dollar General compares with other merchandising stores’s leadership and the trend of Dollar General’s growth in the United States.
One success factor is the company customer service policy which places customers in the center as evidenced by the tagline used on social media platforms DGCustomerFirst. Now, let’s dig deeper and determine if Dollar General is the number one when it comes to the most stores established.
Dollar General’s Expansion Strategy
These days dollar stores sell lower-priced merchandise than their competition and Dollar General is no exception: the company has opened hundreds of new stores since it started its operations. The success of the company does not stop there for them opening new flagship stores, the number of stores built by other retail chains in the region must be surpassed to appreciate their growth in sales.
Aggressive Expansion and Store Openings
- Open Aggressively: Dollar General is notorious for opening stores all around the country. Currently, in 2025, the company has over 18,000 locations in the United States.
- Focus On Underserved Areas: One of their strategies has been to focus on locations that are often neglected by most big retailers. By focusing on small towns and rural areas, Dollar General has been able to expand into regions where most other stores do not exist.
The company’s focus on accessibility and affordability has been vital in achieving aggressive expansion. What action is taken by other chains that have a large concentration of stores?
Comparing Dollar General to Other Retail Chains
Does Dollar General have the most locations when compared to all other large chains? Although Dollar General is one of the largest retail chains in the country in terms of the number of stores, there is plenty of competition.
1. Presence of Walmart
When it comes to retail, Walmart is still in the lead in terms of total stores.
- Number Of Locations: Walmart has more than 4,700 stores in America, but their unlimited stores in over 20 countries mean the total number is substantially higher.
- Store Format: Walmart operates large retail formats like Supercenters which are distinct from Dollar General’s small store format.
Even with fewer stores in the U.S., Walmart remains competitive with its store size and international presence which dwarfs even that of its competitors.
2. Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy
CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens are some of the most important actors in the pharmacy and convenience stores. While their stores tend to be smaller than those of Dollar General, they are nonetheless placed strategically in densely populated cities and suburbs.
- Location count: Both CVS and Walgreens have approximately 9000 to 10000 outlets spread throughout the US.
- Convenience Focused: Their pharmacies are a major source of foot traffic which impacts sales positively unlike Dollar General in selected areas.
Key Differences Between Dollar General and Competitors
| Retailer | Number of Locations in the U.S. | Store Format | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dollar General | 18,000+ | Small-format | Discount retail, convenience |
| Walmart | 4,700+ | Large-format | Variety of goods, including groceries |
| CVS | 9,000+ | Small-format | Pharmacy and healthcare products |
| Walgreens | 9,000+ | Small-format | Pharmacy and convenience items |
Despite Dollar General having a wider store count than other chains, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens also attract various customers through their different facilities.
Dollar General’s Store Network
Let’s take a closer look at what makes Dollar General’s network stand out. It’s not just how many locations there are, but the places they service, how these locations deploy West’s model, and how efficiently they do it.
Store Locations: Urban vs. Rural Areas
- Focus on Rural Areas: Much of Dollar General’s new store growth has come from rural America. Many of their stores are located in regions where big box merchants such as Target or Walmart do not exist. Tapping into smaller neglected markets has been a huge driver of success for Dollar General.
- Urban Expansion: While Dollar General is largely found in rural regions, they are also increasing their presence in urban areas. This mix of urban and rural development has been important to growth.
Affordability And Convenience
- Goods of Less Value: Dollar General‘s business approach focuses on selling essential goods at cheaper prices. The compact size of the store makes it easy for customers to stop by and grab the necessities.
- Accessibility: A lot of Dollar General‘s stores are in small towns or rural and poorer regions, so these stores are helpful to those shoppers who do not have access to big stores.
Operational Effectiveness
- Little Store Footprint: Dollar General’s store format is smaller compared to Walmart’s, and this aids in faster speed of construction and easier form of management.
- Quick Shopping Experience: Shopping at Dollar General enables customers to complete their shopping much faster compared to larger stores.
Dollar General has been able to develop a robust and streamlined store network due to their strategic concentration on rural areas. This growth continues to mark its importance in the retail industry.
The Truth About Dollar General Locations
Does Dollar General have the most locations? So long as we’re talking about numbers, yes. Dollar General has the highest store count of any other retailer with above 18,000 locations. However, it is worth noting that those locations are relatively smaller in size, and more fragmented than their competitors. More recently, the company’s business model expansion and consistent focus on rural areas have made it a noteworthy player in retail.
However, when it comes to the size of the stores, total variety of products offered, and global coverage, other retailers like Wal-Mart completely obliterate Dollar General’s chances at being crowned as categorically dominant. So, does Dollar General have the most locations? In sheer counter in the United States, Yes. But the narrative here is far more nuanced when considering what components achieve dominance in retail.
Key Takeaways
- Dollar General is the leading retailer in the US with the largest count of locations, which exceeds 18,000 stores.
- Dollar’s nearest competitors include Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens, who are each leading in their store category.
- The primary chain has successfully maintained its prominence due to its aggressive advertising of products in more rural and less populated areas.
While Dollar General has the most stores, its success is a result of strategy and adaptability. This is what drives its continued growth in retail.
Conclusion
Finally, Does Dollar General have the most locations? Yes. However, one should note that while Dollar General as a whole outdoes competition when it comes to store count, there are competitors who have enormous scale and scope.
Whether or not Dollar General’s growth continues will depend on how society’s changing tastes and market conditions are accommodated, but until then, the brand is the leading retailer in store count.
