Family Dollar Partners With McLane Co.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar Stores here on Friday said it formed a partnership with distributor McLane Co., Temple, Texas, to supply perishable and frozen product nationwide.

The agreement coincides with Family Dollar’s expansion into the offering of tobacco products, for which McLane is the nation’s largest distributor, a Family Dollar spokesman told SN.

Family Dollar previously had been supplied by a network of other suppliers and through direct-store delivery, explained Josh Braverman, the Family Dollar spokesman. The dollar-store chain does not own any refrigerated or frozen warehouse space, but has been aggressively expanding its offerings of perishables and frozens through the addition of coolers in its stores.

Related story: Family Dollar Adds to Consumables Offering

“We’ll continue to have our buyers buy from the suppliers, and McLane will basically be a third-party distributor,” Braverman said.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“This is a significant opportunity for McLane,” said Mike Youngblood, president of McLane Grocery, in a statement. “Servicing all of the Family Dollar Stores will involve 19 of our distribution centers across the country.”

Family Dollar operates more than 7,200 stores in 45 states.