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New Earle DG Market, city hold Grand Opening celebration, ribbon cutting

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

Sometimes, it’s not a lack of funds to purchase food that causes people to go hungry but rather lack of access to food, sometimes called a food desert.

A food desert is defined a a population group of 500 or more people who reside more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store or supermarket.

The City of Earle was a food desert community until recently with the arrival of Dollar General’s new DG Market in the city.

Dollar General was joined by Mayor Jaylen Smith and other local dignitaries for a recent grand opening community celebration at the new store’s 17568 Hwy. 64 location.

The event included a ribboncutting ceremony with Mayor Jaylen Smith and customer giveaways including $10 gift cards to the first 50 adult customers and DG tote bags with product samples to the first 100 customers.

“Dollar General is excited to open our first DG Market store in Earle and celebrate this community grand opening,” said Tyron Giles, Dollar General’s district manager of operations. “As part of our mission of Serving Others, we believe the addition of each store represents positive economic impact, and we look forward to being a strong business partner and good neighbor as we provide a con-

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Photo courtesy of Dollar General Stores OPEN

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venient location to help our neighbors stretch their budgets.”

DG Market formats offer expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food offerings, dairy products and more, in addition to an assortment of fresh meats, alongside the general merchandise customers trust Dollar General to provide. The Company’s fresh produce offering includes a curated assortment of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes, and more. DG’s produce set offers the top 20 items typically sold in traditional grocery stores and covers approximately 80% of produce categories most grocery stores carry. While DG is not a grocer, the Company cares about and is invested in the health of its hometown communities. DG currently has fresh produce in more than 5,400 stores, giving the Company more individual points of produce distribution than any other U.S. mass retailer or grocer. DG also plans to add produce in approximately 1,500 additional stores in 2024.

Individuals interested in joining the DG team may review available positions and apply online at www.dollargeneral.com/careers. The Company provides employees with competitive wages, world-class and award-winning training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility as well as health insurance coverage options, 401K savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance to eligible employees. Interested candidates can review and apply for available positions here.

Dollar General in Arkansas

Dollar General has a longstanding history in the Natural State, having opened its first Arkansas store in Marked Tree in Poinsett County nearly 50 years ago in 1975 and its first store in Crittenden County in 1994 in West Memphis. The Company currently employs more than 4,800 Arkansas residents.

About Dollar General Stores

Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) is proud to serve as America’s neighborhood general store. Founded in 1939, Dollar General lives its mission of Serving Others every day by providing access to affordable products and services for its customers, career opportunities for its employees, and literacy and education support for its hometown communities. As of February 2, 2024, the Company’s 19,986 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX and pOpshelf stores across the United States and Mi Súper Dollar General stores in Mexico provide everyday essentials including food, health and wellness products, cleaning and laundry supplies, self-care and beauty items, and seasonal décor from our highquality private brands alongside many of the world’s most trusted brands such as Coca Cola, PepsiCo/Frito-Lay, General Mills, Hershey, J.M. Smucker, Kraft, Mars, Nestlé, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.