Family Dollar favors food as fuel for growth

Family Dollar Stores Inc. will continue its aggressive store opening program with a similarly aggressive plan to install coolers in select stores for more perishable food items. By the end of its fiscal year in August 2005, the chain of 5,481 stores in 44 states hopes to have coolers in approximately 500 stores.The company plans to open about 500 to 560 stores and close 60 to 70 stores. Urban markets will continue to be the focus. Sales for the fiscal year just ended were $5.282 billion, up 11.2 percent.