Family Dollar projects better days ahead

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/29/2007 12:12:00 PM

Matthews, N.C. – The good news today for Family Dollar was mainly in the future, as the 6,300-store discount chain said it expects March comp-store sales to rise 3% to 5%, ahead of the previous projection of 2% to 4%. The company projects full-year comps to rise 1% to 3%.

Fiscal 2007 second quarter earnings at the discount chain soared by 66.0% to $90.5 million from $54.5 million for the same period one year ago – but the dramatic change was due to the fact that the company had taken a $45.0 million litigation charge during the fiscal 2006 quarter.

Still, sales are climbing due to expansion, up 12.2% to $1.95 billion from $1.74 billion. Comp-store sales were up a scant 0.4%, with the company noting an increase in average transaction offsetting a decline in customer traffic.

Chairman and ceo Howard Levine pointed to Family Dollar’s inventory and control initiatives, opportunistic buys, and upgrades to store layout. He also noted that profitability continues to improve in the chain’s growing roster of urban stores, as improvements are being made there in manager retention, shrinkage, and shopability.

In merchandise selection, Family Dollar’s current emphasis is on food and apparel, where it has recently announced the introduction of Hanes branded goods. HTT research pegged Family Dollar home textiles sales at $371.5 million for 2005.