Family Dollar

Dollar Tree on Tuesday reported a third-quarter profit that more than doubled compared to last year amid lower merchandise and freight costs. The retailer also lifted its guidance for the fourth quarter.    Dollar Tree’s net income for the quarter, ended Oct. 29, rose to a better-than-expected $171.6 million, or 72 cents a share, up from $81.9 million, or 35 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The prior year included some charges and markdowns related to the Family Dollar business, which Dollar Tree acquired in 2015.

Photo: Michael K. Bloom   Fred’s announced it has promoted COO Michael K. Bloom to chief executive, effective Aug. 29.      Bloom succeeds CEO Jerry A. Shore, who became chief executive in October 2014 and intends to retire in February.   

A little over one year since it acquired rival Family Dollar, Dollar Tree reported revenue that missed Wall Street expectations amid lower customer traffic.     Dollar Tree and other discounters are also feeling the impact of a recent change by some states regarding the criteria for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which has made thousands of households ineligible for benefits.      

Dollar Tree will eliminate some 370 positions as part of a corporate restructuring related to its acquisition of Family Dollar last year.   The cuts, which include 100 vacant positions at its Family Dollar store support center in Matthews, North Carolina, are part of the chain’s ongoing efforts to integrate its support functions through a shared services model.  

Supervalu on Monday announced that experienced financial executive and corporate board member Mary Winston has been appointed to Supervalu's board of directors effective April 27, 2016.

Dollar Tree says the integration of Family Dollar stores helped grow sales and profit in the fourth quarter.

For its fourth quarter ended Jan. 30, net sales at Dollar Tree were $5.37 billion, a 116.7% increase from the same period a year ago. The boost in revenue was the result of $2.68 billion in sales from the Family Dollar d. Same store sales increased 1.7%. Profit was $229 million, up by $22.4 million from a year ago. 

Dollar Tree on Tuesday credited sales at its Family Dollar division as helping to boost the company’s overall results for the fourth quarter. But the increase still fell short of analysts expectations.

Sales for the quarter ended Jan. 30 totaled $5.37 billion, a 116.7% increase from the year-ago period but still less than expected. The boost in revenue was the result of $2.68 billion in sales from the Family Dollar segment.

Dollar Tree says Family Dollar CEO Howard R. Levine is stepping down as an officer of the company following the integration of Family Dollar.

The company had previously announced that Levine would remain with the company for a period of time to assist with the integration, reporting to, and supporting, Dollar Tree’s CEO, Bob Sasser. Gary Philbin, who was named Family Dollar’s president and COO in July, will continue leading Family Dollar and will continue reporting to Sasser.

New York -- Time Equities acquired four Wisconsin multi-tenant retail assets for $18.1 million, spanning 307,668 sq. ft. in total. The acquisitions, consisting of two separate transactions, include The Geneva Commons purchased for $1.3 million, in addition to Oak Creek Centre, Park Plaza and Taylor Heights acquired for $16.8 million.

While same-store sales at Dollar General and Dollar Tree have decelerated of late, that is not the case with Canada’s largest dollar store operator which recently opened its 1,000th location.