Type: Public
On the web: http://www.familydollar.com
Employees: 52,000
Employee growth: 4.0%

Penny-pinching single moms are drawn to Family Dollar. The nation's #2 dollar store (behind Dollar General) targets women shopping for a family earning less than $40,000 a year. It operates 7,000-plus stores in about 45 states and Washington, DC. Consumables (food, health and beauty aids, and household items) account for two-thirds of sales; stores also sell apparel, shoes, and linens. Family Dollar runs small neighborhood stores near its low- and middle-income customers in rural and urban areas. Most merchandise costs less than $10. Family Dollar was founded in 1959 by the father of CEO Howard Levine. In 2011 it rejected an unsolicited takeover offer from Trian Fund Management, run by investor Nelson Peltz.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending August, 2011:
Sales: $8,547.8M
One year growth: 8.7%
Net income: $388.4M
Income growth: 8.5%

Officers:
Chairman and CEO: Howard R. Levine
SVP and CFO: Kenneth T. (Ken) Smith
SVP IT and Procurement and CIO: Joshua R. (Josh) Jewett

Competitors:
Dollar General
Dollar Tree
Wal-Mart

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