Family Dollar Q4 profit up, boosts store expansion plans

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores announced Wednesday that it plans to open 450 to 500 new stores in fiscal 2012, a 50% jump compared with the number of openings in fiscal 2011, and will renovate, relocate or expand over 1,000 locations. The discounter also reported that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income rose 8%.

“In fiscal 2012, we intend to accelerate investments to drive sales and profitability,” said Howard Levine, chairman and CEO.

Family Dollar, which rejected a $7 billion takeover bid by Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management LP in March, earned $79.8 million for the period ended Aug. 27, up from $74 million in the year-ago period.

Revenue rose 9% to $2.13 billion from $1.96 billion, helped by sales of consumables, seasonal items and electronics. Same-store sales rose 5.5%.