UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):   May 5, 2005



Dollar General Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

     
     

Tennessee

001-11421

61-0502302

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

     
     

100 Mission Ridge

Goodlettsville, Tennessee

 

37072

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 
 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (615) 855-4000

     
     
 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


[  ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[  ]

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))






ITEM 2.02.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION


On May 5, 2005, Dollar General Corporation (the “Company”) issued a news release regarding sales results for the four-week and 13-week periods ended April 29, 2005, as well as new store openings and store closings, the planned conference call and webcast regarding first quarter earnings and the planned webcast of the 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The news release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.


ITEM 7.01.

REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE


The information set forth in Item 2.02 above is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 9.01.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS


(a)

Financial Statements of businesses acquired.  N/A

(b)

Pro Forma Financial Information.  N/A

(c)

Exhibits.  See Exhibit Index immediately following the signature page hereto.







SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



Date:   May 5, 2005

DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION

     
     
     
 

By:

/s/ Susan S. Lanigan

   

Susan S. Lanigan

   

Executive Vice President and General Counsel




2






EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.

Description

   

99

News release dated May 5, 2005.




3





Investor Contact:

Media Contact:


Emma Jo Kauffman

Tawn Earnest


(615) 855-5525

(615) 855-5209



DOLLAR GENERAL REPORTS APRIL SAME-STORE SALES UP 5.2%;

ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER CONFERENCE CALL AND WEB CAST OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS



GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. – May 5, 2005 – Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) today reported total retail sales for the April four-week period ended April 29, 2005, equaled $613.5 million compared with $541.1 million last year, an increase of 13.4 percent. For the April period, same-store sales, or sales in stores that were open both at the end of the period and at the beginning of the preceding fiscal year, increased 5.2 percent.


The 5.2 percent same-store sales increase for the period was driven by strong sales increases in food, including perishables, as well as pet supplies and paper products. Customer transactions in same-stores increased approximately 1.2 percent. The average customer purchase in April for total stores was approximately $8.75 compared to $8.34 in the same period last year.  


For the thirteen-week period ended April 29, 2005, Dollar General total retail sales increased 13.1 percent to $2.0 billion from $1.7 billion for the thirteen-week period ended April 30, 2004.  Same-store sales for the thirteen-week period increased 4.9 percent, driven by strong same-store sales increases in food, including perishables, candy and snacks, as well as pet supplies and paper products. In general, sales of merchandise in the Company’s higher margin categories for the thirteen-week period were lower than anticipated.  


Year-to-date through April 29, 2005, the Company has opened 255 stores and closed 24.


Earnings Conference Call Information


Dollar General is scheduled to announce earnings for the first quarter ended April 29, 2005, on Thursday, May 26, 2005.  The Company will host a conference call on Thursday, May 26, 2005, at 10 a.m. EDT to discuss the quarter’s results.  The security code for the conference call is “Dollar General.”  If you wish to participate, please call (334) 260-2280 at least 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin.  The call will also be broadcast live online at www.dollargeneral.com . A replay of the conference call will be available until 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 9, online or by calling (334) 323-7226.  The replay pass code is 11237744.


Annual Meeting of Shareholders Web cast Information


Dollar General also plans to Web cast its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, May 24, 2005, at 10:00 a.m. CDT/11:00 a.m. EDT.  The Web cast will be available live on Dollar General’s Web site at www.dollargeneral.com by clicking on the home page spotlight item with a replay available until 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 9, 2005.







About Dollar General


Dollar General is a Fortune 500 ® discount retailer with 7,551 neighborhood stores as of April 29, 2005.  Dollar General stores offer convenience and value to customers by offering consumable basic items that are frequently used and replenished, such as food, snacks, health and beauty aids and cleaning supplies, as well as a selection of basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items at everyday low prices.  The Company store support center is located in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Dollar General’s Web site can be reached at www.dollargeneral.com .


# # #