Dollar stores squeezing out grocery stores and leading to creation of food deserts, study finds

In March, advocacy group the Institute for Local Self-Reliance published a study that found that dollar stores are pulling sales away from local grocery stores in predominantly rural, low-income Black and Latino neighborhoods, leading some areas to become food deserts. Now communities across the country are fighting back. NBC News’ Zinhle Essamuah reports.
» Subscribe to NBC News: nbcnews.to/SubscribeToNBC
» Watch more NBC video: bit.ly/MoreNBCNews
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.
Connect with NBC News Online!
NBC News App: smart.link/5d0cd9df61b80
Breaking News Alerts: link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/bre...
Visit NBCNews.Com: nbcnews.to/ReadNBC
Find NBC News on Facebook: nbcnews.to/LikeNBC
Follow NBC News on Twitter: nbcnews.to/FollowNBC
Get more of NBC News delivered to your inbox: nbcnews.com/newsletters
#DollarStores #Food #GroceryStores

[@A.I.WarFare1947]

Cheap food leads to expensive health problems.

[@savagerampage69]

Unless you’re a gardener

[@rottenapple_]

Only if you're American

[@MrMadbrowncow]

You are still alive

[@BenLA5]

In Canada "cheap food" thats low quality, non-organic is MORE expensive than the highest quality food, sometimes by 30-50%. Regulated capitalism has increased competition and everyone benefits. There's been price fixing scandals among megacorps here, but they do NOT effect u as there's HUNDREDS of places to buy food

[@BenLA5]

@@rottenapple_ Lol Canada spends 2x LESS per capita on healthcare. Some sources say 4x. Either way, the US spends over 800 BILLION on unnecessary paperwork and admin fees EVERY year. IMAGINE if Canada spent the same amount. CONservatives defund healthcare in Canada so they can push their agenda and claim privatizing is the solution LMAO!!! Cons are a plague

[@Beatlearl]

ALWAYS pay attention to the expiration dates on products when you shop in those stores.🤔

[@tjgen34]

Thank you, I am glad you said this!!!!

[@jermainelatimer804]

You took the words right out of my mouth

[@jasonboy9676]

I'll do the same at every store

[@KevinSamuelsPowerBottom]

I appreciate the note. It's wild that this is a thing that adults need to be advised of this

[@Beatlearl]

@@KevinSamuelsPowerBottom I’ve seen items on shelves well past their expiration date but to be fair I’ve seen the same in some Walmart and stores.

[@sayless1445]

All the dollar generals in my area don't even have a fresh food section, so that's different

[@Solisium-Channel]

Same here. I only buy snacks at those stores.

[@jebiusenvy]

Dollar General even has full on markets on areas

[@kakerosa5466]

There is dollar general and dollar general market, which most places don’t have a market.

[@barbarapeller]

I was saying the same thing: when did Dollar General start stocking produce? Not here in Dallas.

[@d.menace9256]

They do in my area , fresh produce

[@hirotatsufujinami691]

My father sometimes told me "It's ok for you to live in a cheap house or wear cheap clothes, but you must not eat cheap foods to save money." I can recall the old saying "You are what you eat."...and yes, now I'm quite sure it is correct.

[@Laniya.]

Not everyone has the money to buy expensive food. Food is expensive

[@Introvertsan]

Not everyone has money for.that so items better to eat than have nothing at all

[@TheCeraization]

Cheap foods only lead to expensive health problems later.

[@javiervelez892]

Yeah, you save money on cheap food but pay it with your health. Cheap food mainly consists of fats and sugar dumps.

[@sew_gal7340]

@@Laniya. Then you eat less food and what you do eat is very high quality. I grew up eating only organic food, we were poor, we ate twice a day every day but everything we ate was grown nearby with our plates mostly of vegetables and rarely meat. I have never been hospitalized and i never have the cold or the flu (except once). It really isnt that hard to eat healthy, most people just dont want to.

[@rj6404]

My grandfather who survived Great Depression told me once , Nothing Cheap is good .. Nothing Good is cheap .

[@tjgen34]

👏👏👏

[@RAMBOIT.]

So walking for free anit good then that's what your grandfather would've said then

[@sew_gal7340]

@@RAMBOIT. you need to think a little harder

[@eckankar7756]

We lived in a rural area, had our own chickens and a garden, canned our harvest to eat all winter. You can live well on little money if you're willing to put the effort into it. My parents went through the Great Depression, they learned to not waste no matter if something was cheap or not.

[@jeanmember]

​@@RAMBOIT. he didn't say free he said cheap

[@MW-fk5ic]

Are we just ignoring the fact that a lot of people shop there bc it's what they can afford or I know plenty of people in my neighborhood without a car and the closest thing to us is a gas station or a dollar general probably a mile from my house either one of them. Yeah grocery stores are way better for balanced meals, but some people are just doing what they can to survive. How are they just going to brush over the price difference right now for so many people who are struggling to afford to live get real.

[@themoneymasters101]

Companies and corporations operate based off of numbers not necessarily compassion.

[@LakePlay]

Maybe you should vote differently

[@violdagamba]

But they discussed in the video that part of the reason grocery stores are often pricier and/or farther away is because the dollar stores push them out. The grocery suppliers cut better deals with the dollar stores and the local grocery then can't compete.

[@theuniversepeople6792]

Items can be more expensive in those dollar stores honestly

[@grizzlybear4]

The dollar stores are huge companies that push out real grocery stores and eliminate choices for getting food.

[@applesauce1680]

Living in a rural community I think of Dollar General as more of a convenience store to pick up one or two items that I don't want to drive into town for, not a replacement to a grocer. I don't even pay attention to the prices, I know it has to be cheaper than gas.

[@weirdshibainu]

Right? I do a lot of traveling in rural America and use Dollar General for my road snacks. I see where they would be very convenient for some staples when the nearest Walmart is 50 miles away and Dollar General doesn't price gouge for the convenience.

[@mia1shooter]

most things in dollar general is over priced anyway. people dont calculate the prize per oz

[@misledprops]

It’s so true!

[@bonjourneegarmin7913]

Overpriced and expired items

[@Solisium-Channel]

To me it's just a snack store. I don't buy anything else.

[@SL-lz9jr]

I go for the random household supply. But otherwise, I don't use them.

[@groupergary5536]

It's about convenience on a few needed items on a random day for me. I still make the grocery store trip weekly.

[@vakkachan1]

I don't think dollar stores sell stuff for a dollar anymore, I find them more expensive than my local grocer or walmart.

[@yvonneplant9434]

They don't.

[@proletariennenaturiste]

Not even Dollar Tree. It sells products at 1.25. And even 5$ Below sells products that are over that amount, even double or triple, or more.

[@BlazingShackles]

Dollar stores used to be your backup to "normal" stores when you needed to scrimp or just didnt want to pay full price. Now they are the "normal" and shopping at Von's or Safeway is a luxury. Boy how the rich keep winning and winning.

[@morpheusgreene2704]

then become the rich by any means necessary

[@joet7136]

​@@morpheusgreene2704 yeah! Just STEAL more from the grocery stores! Problem solved!

[@morpheusgreene2704]

@@charlesgrey5607 weird you didnt mention soros or gates or bezos

[@BlazingShackles]

@@charlesgrey5607 you are so transparent Chuck.

[@steviejohnson378]

Stop shoplifting first

[@marygambrell8238]

There used to be a 7-eleven at every street corner, now there is a dollar general on every corner now. The stores are never stocked, unopened stock are blocking the isles and there would be 1 person on each shift! Moreover, when Dollar general has a weekly sale, the items are usually out of stock or not priced to match the sale! Also, I need to include the filthy state that most Dollar General stores are in!

[@randomoverpopulatedworldid3286]

7/11 ONLY sells poisonous food. Literally... they might carry a bananas or apple once and a while but no real food. 7/11 is partially what caused food deserts to begin with. Again with the systemic racism in the area!!!!

[@albertoagilar1807]

Write a book about it and then use the pages to whipe your tears

[@NYCHFAN]

I've never been in a Dollar General, they look filthy from the outside, I've never wanted to go in them.

[@TheoneGodfather]

That’s exactly what the CEO said. He wants a Dollar General on every street corner like 7-Eleven.

[@apcarl6351]

Don't shop there. It's really that simple. Is whining about it going to solve your issues?

[@LynnJung]

You know I have to take exception to this story. If it wasn't for dollar stores I would have trouble feeding my family. Cuz the grocery stores charge two to three times more for prices of the same items that I could get at the dollar store.

[@Greeneyedkitty82]

Are you calculating the weight of what you are buying. DG often sales smaller sizes for less.

[@bellabookitty9014]

@@Greeneyedkitty82 Exactly 💯

[@theboringchannel2027]

on a per ounce basis, DG and DT are generally higher in price than a supermarket.

[@removedbyutube]

Sorry to hear that, we're all facing tough times

[@SCFLEUR]

Dollar General is not cheap

[@Alan-B]

This almost seems like an attack article from Walmart. This is just what Walmart has done for years. Built smaller stores, neighborhood matkets and then close after killing local businesses. They built Super Stores a ways away whew everyone now has to shop. Dollar General has come into this void and serviced the communities after Walmart's destructive business model. Dollar General is the only real competition, and Wally World's biggest headache. I fully support Dollar General and see them as a positive alternative to the far off Super Stores. Mom and Pop stores are in trouble even without Walmart and Dollar General. The same thing is happening in every retail market. Look at Amazon, Ebay, etc. Times are changing and it is very sad.

[@Alovellyone]

I said the same thing. My sister loathes walmart because of how they've run all the smaller stores into oblivion. Walmart leaves no other option but to shop from them. Dollar stores aren't going anywhere because it's where alot low income individuals can get non-perishable and household items at an affordable price.

[@Whatguy11]

As horrible as Walmart is, these dollar stores are worse. Especially the working conditions, usually 1 person running the store overworked and underpaid, and I seen tiktoks where they don't even have working A/C.

[@Adam-dt4cg]

​@@Whatguy11 do you see the real problem

[@39mack23]

@@Whatguy11 so why work there We should stop blaming the idiots and just stop servicing them. You'll make more working for doordash or Uber at this point

[@CendeTanen-lp8xt]

No way look again who the owns their stock, state st. Blcrck, van,. The new produce is own by the global elite and handle by Gates to infuse the produce qith you know what. Dig a little. Its all there.

[@endliarcheats2927]

Knowing a persons name is nice, it doesn't pay the bill.

[@lorraine4755]

Well said, I was thinking the same thing.

[@papaagidi2838]

I laugh at your clever comment on the video

[@WilldoAldone]

These stores are popping where I live, but they are higher than Walmart and regular grocery stores.

[@bobshagit-io8lq]

higher in price, lower in quality

[@Chinaglo24]

I was picking up a patient of mine she wanted to stop by the Dollar Store the line was so long I told her NO but you got to admit they making money off of black people that all who were in line,

[@kpath74]

Higher price to cover more theft.

[@Jay12Dizzle]

A 2 liter coke was 3.50 today at my local frys. Who is really hurting the community?

[@bellabookitty9014]

I switched to Sunkist pop it's only 1.49 for a 2 liter . Diet Sunkist as well . I don't drink much soda pop but sometimes it's the only thing that quenches my thirst .

[@brownwolf6280]

@@bellabookitty9014$ 2.95 at my Dollar general store

[@paulgoodwin9588]

@@brownwolf6280 12 pack of pepsi 6.99 at DG. An 18 pack of pepsi at save a lot 6.99. So you get 6 more 12 oz cans of pepsi at save a lot for the same price. DG is a rip off.

[@Mizzincognito1]

Let us not forget the disrespect Dollar general treats customers with. They act as is people are there to steal and not shop rudely demanding you leave your personal bags at the front on the floor. These stores want your money for over priced low value goods in a cluttered disorganized mess.

[@bellabookitty9014]

BINGO 🎯 BINGO BINGO 🎯!!!!!!!!

[@David53D]

Not where I live in South Texas.

[@tfuthought]

I had an owner literally drag my cart and try to say that I was stealing. I made her feel stupid AF.

[@TheoneGodfather]

Can’t blame them. There are a lot of thieves around.

[@reagenlionel]

They do get robbed and stolen from alot. I love two blocks away from a family dollar. And they get robbed like every few weeks. And every other day someone has been trying to steal from them. I've seen it over years, they had to progressive increase security. You can't blame them for that.

[@helenh.2172]

Since I am a single person living alone, I don’t need large individual quantities of food items that I can’t consume before they go stale, etc. Dollar stores provide me with smaller packages, etc, that I can completely consume. Therefore I save money and don’t waste any food. I don’t exclusively buy my food there, such as fresh produce or meat, but dollar stores are a budget saver for me.

[@blackcherry6877]

I cannot believe they are blaming dollar stores, who provide household essentials not groceries, for the collapse of grocery stores 😑

[@moniquedaughtry]

Have you ever been to a grocery store? If not, you should go to one because they sell household essentials supplies.

[@blackcherry6877]

@@moniquedaughtry I literally can walk to 3 of them in my neighborhood. What a dvm question. The point is the grocery stores are not building there but people still need what they need so why wouldn't dollar stores build where there is a need genius.

[@paulgoodwin9588]

@@blackcherry6877 Dollar General will build wherever they can rip people off.

[@jukebox1096]

Dollar general and family dollar are not dollar stores

[@jinxterpinxter]

The funny thing is that “dollar stores” don’t exist anymore.

[@bradsanders6954]

@@jinxterpinxter Its now "dollar, and up" in fine print somewhere. They are more pricey in some cases than Winco or other stores.

[@stephaniereece3573]

We know that, it's just a nickname really

[@84americanwoman]

Dollar Tree isn’t even a dollar anymore. Dollar and Quarter Tree. Unreal since the product made cheaply is still outsourced from overseas.

[@dot2274]

@@bradsanders6954 dollar general has alot of dollar items where im at a bunch of $1 off brand chips over 9 flavors to choose , all candies or most of them are still $1 dollar

[@Sweetpixels01]

Oh excuse you me dollar store was sometimes the only way I could afford to feed my family, and there's nothing wrong with the food, most have fresh and prepackaged and when you've got hungry kids you buy what you can afford, perhaps if the government stopped destroying thousands of tons of food every year just to keep prices artificially inflated the story would be different.

[@rosaliamartinez8956]

Preach sister !!!

[@mrsleep0000]

Maybe you should have gotten your life together before you had kids so you could afford to feed them. Woman are the worst at making good decisions, all these dummies getting pregnant and having kids they can't afford.

[@kushking949]

First off they are just making this about race like always. Well maybe your black store should be cheaper on prices .

[@-_Somebody_]

🎯

[@derrynelson4637]

Ain’t nobody Complained about How Walmart Destroyed other Grocery Store Chains.

[@SpeekofDee]

People did complain but ain't nothing they can do about it lol.

[@weirdshibainu]

Ain't nobody Complained when people were stealing from Walmart.

[@wanluv]

Yes, yes they did. They especially complained because unfortunately Wal-Mart brings toxic violence.....its all there if you take time to look it up.

[@Mouse01011]

I don’t know what rock you’ve been living under the last 20 years.

[@derrynelson4637]

@@Mouse01011 I don’t know what rock you been living under for the past 50 years

[@miken7629]

When I was a kid, dollar stores were called Five & Dimes. Inflation made them dollar stores. Soon they will be called Five & Tens ($5 &$10). More inflation.

[@P8860]

They have five below stores now

[@vulcan2882]

I do most of my food shopping at Walmart, prices there are still cheaper than at stores like Kroger Publix Safeway and such. The Dollars stores around me don't have grocerys, they do have chips and sodas but that's about it.

[@beautifulbrains]

So basically, Dollar General is riding the coattail of a full service grocery store, but isn’t.

[@keepaway7896]

People are going to go where the prices are cheaper plain and simple

[@skuggensdam13]

I saw firsthand how these dollar stores create food deserts when I lived in Illinois for a while. Sure, they do sell some food, but it's primarily junk. The closest halfway decent grocery store was almost 40 minutes away.

[@magesalmanac6424]

Everyone should try to grow their own food if possible. Even a little herb box will save you money.

[@shari9721]

Yes , even on a balcony you have room to grow numerous things in 5 gallon buckets if you grow "Up" tomatoes , cucumbers , zucchini, strawberries etc

[@Danny451]

I have a chicken coop in my apartment, so that it saves me money on those expensive eggs at the supermarket.

[@JW-hi5wd]

@@Danny451 Gross.

[@wil-fri]

​@@JW-hi5wd remember that Dr. House episode where a boy with asma went to chicken fights and didn't tell the doctors?

[@Danny451]

@@JW-hi5wd It's gross, and the smell is bad, and it's a violation code and nobody wants to visit, but at least I get cheap eggs.🤣🐔 🥚🥚

[@Autmazing]

Our local grocery store went out of business a couple of years ago and all our town of a few thousand people has locally is one Dollar General. You have to drive more than ten miles in any direction to another town to get to a grocery store.

[@CloseYourWombs]

There is nothing wrong with Family Dollar, Dollar General and Dollar Stores (just that they need better organization). That being said….Like the lady said they compliment the grocery stores. These stories are good for party supplies and holiday decorations. Birthday 🥳 balloons 🎈 for $1. Decorations for $1., games, toys, crafts. Where the other big stores charge you like 5x-10x more for the same item. Let FREE MARKET decide. There’s so much to be said but I’ll stop here. People need to understand that everything in your community isn’t bad or out to get you.

[@jayrag123]

I live in a majority Black part of a mid sized town in Georgia. In my area, within about a 3 mile area. We have about 3 dollar stores and 2 grocery stores. We had 1 grocery store shut down but another took its place. And we had a dollar store shut down and another took it's place. I really can't see a dollar store putting a grocery store out of business. I've never seen people spend more than probably less than a hundred in a dollar store. But people spend a few hundred in a grocery store.

[@duane_313]

Yeah, this news story is very weird. I only heard of dollar stores popping up in urban food desserts alleviate a problem, not cause it..I think these people are directing their negative energy at wrong place. They should be concerned why their community members feel they have to shop at a dollar store instead.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Saver Delivery

[@Akaczka]

I have never seen fresh produce in a dollar general anywhere in my life.

[@Bongface.]

Or is it that the grocery stores that open in those areas get robbed to death everyday and choose to close their stores rather than to let the people steal everything that's not bolted down. It's one of those issues we won't actually address because it would hurt the "other groups" feelings.....

[@joet7136]

Nope. Nobody's talking about the obvious.

[@Nigelsmom2136]

Walmart has done the same thing for decades.

[@peterbury9707]

I get almost all my food shipped from Target now. ALDI'S often fills the gap of the huge supermarkets which are the size of whole city blocks nowadays.

[@laurenwarwick6517]

Love Aldi's. I have a regular list of fruit and veggies and meats I get there plus the best prices most times for milk, butter and eggs. I always scan the sections to see if they have some name brand on a sale price I know beats the larger chain or I find a special treat item at a good price and splurge...last time was a dozen frozen coconut shrimp with a pack of fruit sauce for under $5. As an appetizer at the cheapest restaurant near me they are $12.99. Great lunch. Some failures to stock as much as a bigger store, but I note what I need they do not stock and make a list. Another go to is Aldi stocks cut flowers for way cheaper than the flower section in area groceries or the bait and swirch garden centers that promise Easter flowers $3.99 on signs...but when you go in the few bedraggled offerings for that price are pitiful and any that look good are more like $10 and up. Aldi's flower prices are as marked and best.

[@ronniepatterson2827]

You can afford stuff from Target?

[@peterbury9707]

Target groceries are cheaper than my local market by far and cheaper than Walmart online. Free shipping too.

[@22lanisha]

@Honest Real That’s a question for your local Target.

[@desktopkitty]

The Dollar Generals in our area are more like small convenience stores. They don't sell meat or produce. I run in there to buy a pack of gum or a sewing kit to fix a button, stuff like that. I go there when I don't want to go into a Walmart just a get one or two little items. The closest thing to "groceries" our Dollar Generals sell are snacks and beverages.

[@84americanwoman]

They aren’t groceries they are convenience stores. Some products are more expensive than chains. Dollar Tree isn’t even a dollar anymore it’s now “Dollar and a Quarter Tree” now. I read they will be becoming more of a 5 Below eventually. Prices sky rocketing inflation and pay for people stays stagnant. We’re well on our way to being a two class society. Rich and poor. That’s a problem.

[@charliedeegan1598]

The last time in history a wealth gap was this big.... well.... Let's just say everyone lost their minds

[@DeviantMotives]

There’s no way dollar stores are squeezing out grocery stores. They have only a few food items and they’re usually expired.

[@kendra.achildress5210]

Thats the problem... too many dollar stores & not enough grocery stores

[@ARenamonOnTheInternet]

Republicans are just hating.

[@blackforehead]

In Canada we have the Dollarama and Dollar Tree, I get my things like bathroom, kitchen and house cleaners, pens, paper, markers, envelopes, laundry detergent, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, body wash, paper towels, batteries, and snacks like Oreo cookies, microwave popcorn, canned foods and the occasional chocolate bar and bottle water and I will only spend under $100 every 2 weeks, Dollar Stores carry the bulk of my must haves so I am able to afford food from Costco, Sobeys and No Frills, to me Dollar Stores are a saviour.

[@desmondjefferson2127]

Those are the only stores that same area doesn't ROB!! Now, no other store will go into there. 💫

[@mynameis11111]

This is why I always shop at mom and pop shops, I stay away from Amazon like the plague

[@deamorebeaute2412]

Mom and Pop shops sell products on Amazon. 😂 Everything is moving towards digital transformation. Unless, there is an EMP attack nothing is going to change.

[@ARenamonOnTheInternet]

And spending more money too

[@tacobelle69]

Are they seriously complaining ? How about they lower their prices?! Grocery store mark up like crazy. It’s time for a change.

[@krnpowr]

The small grocery stores, like the one featured in this segment, actually have real thin margins.

[@zesolodar]

if your a kroger, publix yes your right. but those arent the ones going out of business and closing stores, if they do its not for money, because your publix you can buy a huge amount so you get a deal from the suppliers. they know your a good customer. this guy not so much. as someone who owns their own business quantity is a big deal when it comes to suppliers. go get an alarm company to give you price for a system. then ask them can you do ten for me and see how the price per unit or subscription fee changes. also have you ever looked at his p and l sheet to know what he can afford to do or not do. you really dont think he tried lowering his price? come on now

[@jonnyfendi2003]

“Its time for a change “….. u voted for this quit complaining. Enjoy your bidenflation now keep quiet and wear your mask

[@sandraphillips7827]

Please. I promise you people act as if under 45 there were no problems. Clearly you find places that sell Koolaid.

[@krnpowr]

@@jonnyfendi2003 the entire globe is currently dealing with high inflation. In fact, the US has a lower rate than just about any other country, clown. Keep your Faux News BS to yourself

[@boujiebarbie3198]

I don't understand how they are so popular. They're just as expensive as the bigger stores. And where I live, there are no dollar stores with fresh foods, vegetables and fruits.

[@sandrahunter5749]

I shop at Dollar General,Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar for some items.

[@gonefishing11]

High inflation is causing people on lower incomes to shop around for the best deals so they can afford to pay other bills

[@tylerkeller8869]

Great reporting. The food may be low cost. But they sell garbage and typically operate in communities with majority of residents below the poverty line.

[@waltchan]

And prices higher than Walmart too.

[@Mouse01011]

Before the Trump loving conservatives start commenting and claiming that this is another woke journalistic piece, as someone who lives in Minnesota, and my travels to rural parts of the state (which are mostly white working class), I can attest that these dollars stores are all over the freaking place and almost squeezing out mom and pop grocery stores.

[@ARenamonOnTheInternet]

You sound like a republican that has no idea what they are talking about

[@JJordan1012]

That first Dollar Store DEFINITELY knew they were gonna be on TV, look how clean it was 😆

[@Icarianbrother]

Dried legumes, whole grains, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables and frozen fruit are relatively inexpensive. Chicken leg quarters and canned fish-salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring are also relatively inexpensive.

[@someguyontheinternet9808]

If they're not "grocers", then why are they trying to compete with grocery stores?

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

$$$$. They sell nothing but junk food.

[@mrorangeDenver]

Let us choose what we do with our money.

[@Tevs91]

I only go to dollar tree for glassware and cleaning supplies never for groceries. Kroger is pretty affordable if you have it in your town ❤

[@13ikea]

2:05 She’s right… they aren’t designed to be grocers.

[@joegug4751]

I go to dollar tree because it’s close and the grocery stores here are so expensive. Walmart is my first choice to shop, other stores cost sometimes twice as much.

[@meatpopsicle1567]

Shoplifting and theft costs grocers millions each year, and they're going to blame the "dollar" stores for the loss of profits. Lazy.

[@SpokenTruth419]

Very interesting story. Food deserts are real and dollar stores are slightly upgraded corner stores not solving the problem of nutritional food in the community.

[@rainbowstar2775]

Then people should take supplements and vitamins

[@SpokenTruth419]

@@rainbowstar2775 so because your food is not nutritious you should be forced to take supplements? Pills covered in other chemicals just to live great idea 👍🏾. It's like saying eat poison as long as you have the antidote 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@DJ-vj4vi]

We need grocery markets in food deserts in Toledo ,Ohio.

[@randomoverpopulatedworldid3286]

And I used to think Toledo was a big city? Ouch Im sorry... it's the same for my rural brothers and sisters in my state. Dollar General is tricking people but at the same time the one featured in this "report" seems to have everything a small safeway would have.

[@opie32958]

Start one.

[@TheAdventureAuto]

I absolutely love the Dollar Tree!

[@Solisium-Channel]

I like their toy section and buy little toy planes. Don't buy frozen food there though. Maybe cheap but it's also gross.

[@TheAdventureAuto]

@@Solisium-Channel I buy so many different things. I bought a pair of gardening gloves there and better quality than $10 home Depot pair. Interior and exterior solar lights, and other small electronics. Brushes and buckets for car wash. I never really buy any food there.

[@Solisium-Channel]

@@TheAdventureAuto Yeah, it's got a little bit of everything for cheap, except food. I once bought this frozen weird looking meat and it melted in the microwave lol

[@abc123fhdi]

Don't shop at dollar store if you don't want them.

[@laurenwarwick6517]

Dollar Tree is the $1.25 store now but in my experience Family Dollar or Dollar General are not dollar stores except that their prices are expressed in dollars and cents. Often prices are hard to find so the item you expected to be $1 or $2 is more like $5 or $10 or more. I avoid these, shop the sales in full service groceries where I know the regular price and if the sale price is worth it and if a name brand on sale is cheaper than the generic store brand and if so, is there a quality difference or not.

[@oceanblueheart1472]

Honestly the real reason why. People are forced to shop these stores because they can't afford shopping over inflated stores. Quit pretending it ain't so.

[@willman9567]

They better be grateful. Grocery stores are leaving because of crime. They are not being honest here.

[@yamasama1]

I absolutely love dollar stores, they provide some needed stuff at low prices and dont inflate like the groceries where things are up every week...its not comparable to a grocery store but it definitely helps everyone in the community, specially those with low income! Food there is also not bad, its same as others in the grocery store tested/approved and not expired! So why judge? Suddenly the store that works for poor people is a problem?

[@chantey_x3]

We have to fight for dollar stores to remain open & affordable for all. They aren’t a grocery store but is affordable when you go for cleaning supplies and snacks lol 😅

[@ThereAreNoBlackPpl]

but not fresh foods, good luck with all your community health problems

[@aidanpierce9002]

@kazewarrior 93 says you who can afford to go to conventions

[@johnnyp7329]

@@kazewarrior93 shop at Walmart

[@johnnyp7329]

Eat ground turkey Jennos fruit and veggies it's not that expensive

[@ThereAreNoBlackPpl]

@kazewarrior 93 yes, it is nice to be able to afford all these fresh foods. I live in a place where that kind of thing is important to people. if you don’t want a business to close, you’re suppose to go support them by buying things from there. so we have a lot of choices where i live, it’s why i chose to live where i am. I think of how inconvenient it is to live in certain places, because of the inaccessibility to good foods can cause further health problems down the line, and end up being more costlier in the long run. pay now or pay later.

[@donlitt]

I get all my meat and produce from a farmers market. Snacks and non-food grocery items I get from Walmart because they usually have the best selection and prices

[@KlunkersKustoms]

sucks inner city Grocery stores have such high theft rates. hard to stay open, hope things can turn around someday

[@gutterhunk]

There are absolutely no grocery stores in my area, it's better than nothing.

[@krnpowr]

Sorry to hear. Where do you live?

[@Danny451]

​@@krnpowr In the poor area.

[@nikeprojock]

dollar stores are cool for a visit but they are no replacement for a grocery store, i feel like we need to fight

[@texchu8331]

It's just a narrative. I've seen dollar stores and grocery stores co-exist just fine. It's Walmart that kills the grocery stores, since those big Walmarts do sell everything a normal grocery store sells but for cheaper.

[@ARenamonOnTheInternet]

It's called competition. You are just doing what Republicans want you to do

[@nikeprojock]

@@ARenamonOnTheInternet what do republicans want me to do???

[@DrLauraRPalmer]

This is RIDICULOUS! The dollar stores are like corner store bodegas. If the people want and need that in their day to day journey who is it for some larger store to figure out a way to eliminate the affordable convenient stores? Nobody in that area is going to spend more money just to save a grocery store. If you can’t handle the competition, you lose.

[@alexandrajohnson886]

Great coverage …Dollar stores are convenience stores … in fact this is like Walmarts opening up and shutting down the Mom and Pops stores over the course of decades … I prefer to go to the independent business -even “franchised grocers” than the Dollar stores for a grocery list …Our community is blessed to still have “independent “ small business/grocers and retailers (many have closed and a few hung in there)

[@crystalmasters8582]

They need to lower prices then

[@krnpowr]

Not possible with the prices that wholesalers are selling to the small grocery stores. And the producers currently are making record profits selling at inflated prices to wholesalers.

[@bellabookitty9014]

It's also the high price of gas to get the products to the store . Anytime gas goes up , so does food .

[@mattwhaley1865]

Need to start getting community gardens in place of places like dollar general and family dollar and dollar tree. Any old warehouses or shopping malls can be converted into housing and community areas. We need to stop relying on big corporations for food.

[@reneedennis2011]

👍🏾

[@_PAIGE94]

Never thought a dollar store would threaten any grocery store 😧

[@jonathanshaffer6757]

dollar stores don’t run grocery stores out of business, theft does

[@johnboy11652]

I've been to a lot of freaking Dollar generals and I've never seen fresh produce you may see like a few small coolers in the back of the store

[@makeracistsafraidagain]

People are always going to look for the lowest prices possible. No one means any harm by it.

[@bellabookitty9014]

Thankyou . You are so correct . We r just trying to survive .

[@trinsit]

What do they want us to do? We're getting priced out of the grocery store. The point of raised the Federal interest rate was so people would stop shopping until the corporate giants decide to lower prices.

[@gb23a]

That wouldn't happen if these grocery stores weren't so greedy

[@bellabookitty9014]

BINGO 🎯

[@jeffw1267]

Right. I noticed that a 2-liter of A&W root beer is now $3.49 at Kroger. The same 2-liter at Dollar Tree is $1.25. There are lots of other examples too. Why is Kroger charging almost three times as much?

[@joet7136]

LMAO! That's hilarious. Grocery stores have razor thin margins. Food deserts happen when the surrounding community allows rampant theft but hey, keep ignoring the obvious!

[@TiredButHardWorking]

I noticed back in February 2023 that a regular / medium sized jar of Hellmans mayonnaise was selling for approximately $10.50 at my local CVS location, which I've shopped at since 2007. When a singular , regular sized / regular quantity of mayonnaise costs $11.00 after taxes, then circumstances will only worsen for people to afford food. I've NEVER seen mayonnaise cost $11.00 in my state of residence until 2023, and I've always resided in a very expensive state.

[@barbarahendryx809]

CVS is outrageously priced anyway.

[@PickleRick65]

If your getting emotional about a grocery store, you have Bigger problems...

[@AJXOXO-vz1pn]

So, how is it Dollar stores fault that the big grocery stores don’t want to open up in poor black and Latino communities?

[@americangirlx4]

Does anyone know the main holding company of all these "dollar" stores? Or is it hidden by Shell companies? There are so many popping up, and so closely located is mighty sus. Sounds a lot like when Walmart came into every neighborhood, running out all the local small businesses that supported the community, contributing to massive job loss, leaading to increased poverty, crime and substance abuse. Sounds like the, "How to destroy a Community" handbook!! 😢😢 Cheaper is NOT ALWAYS better!!

[@weirdshibainu]

Dollar General is a publicly traded company. It stock closed at $ 212.44 a share on 4/6/2023 with a market cap of 46.5 billion. Dollar Tree closed at $ 149.04 a share on 4/6/2023, with a market cap of 33 billion. No holding company, no shell company, no conspiracy. Simply a chain of stores that sell a lot of product in lesser served markets.

[@americangirlx4]

@@weirdshibainu There is definitely more to the story. Many communities have started to put the brakes on allowing anymore $ stores to come in comparing them to the Walmart takeover. The cos. "story" of "claiming" to fill in small town's food deserts doesn't ring true. If that was the case, they wouldn't have nearly so many. The market is saturated, yet their plans to build more are still growing! They are quite aware that their presence will gradually destroy the local businesses, eliminating larger grocers, forcing residents to rely on ONLY cheap and unhealthy food and products available. Studies show that areas where $ stores have become a primary shopping source, people's health has declined with huge increases in diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. Moreso, the prices aren't as good as they seem, (with deceptive practices) such as small packaging, lower weight and volume and single serve vs. bulk, and poor quality and "questionable" ingredients. 🤔🤔

[@weirdshibainu]

@@americangirlx4 Disagree. The market will determine if there are too many of those stores in a given area. You're also assuming that local businesses don't exploit their advantage in the market. If the dollar stores products were abjectly inferior and deceptive, the consumer would vote with their pocket book. Again, I travel rural areas where a Walmart is miles away. I find it laughable when people complain about the poor food choices offered by the dollar stores. I'm not claiming they're a whole foods, but look at the dietary selection offered by CVS or Walgreens..supposed healthcare based stores. Look at Walmart, while they offer "fresh food" they are a huge supplier of poor dietary selections. I also find it hilarious that the same communities that push back against dollar stores more than welcome every fast food franchise as well as Starbucks. I'd really like to see the studies that show what's claimed and more importantly who is funding the study. I'll give you a classic case---sugar is the number cause of obesity and a number of other health issues. In the 90s , "excess fat" in food became the enemy without any serious scientific review...who pushed the "fat is bad" narrative...studies funded by the sugar industry.

[@americangirlx4]

@@weirdshibainu I'm sure that ur aware that most of ur rebuttal was a series of strawman arguments. U chose to steer ur opinions to unrelated and incongruous areas. Don't know why ur pushing the "agenda" so hard, or if u have a stake in the $ store takeover, but either way....you've developed a rigid mindset that refuses or is incapable of seeing the BIG picture! That is, in itself, tragic!!

[@weirdshibainu]

@@americangirlx4 I'm not pushing an agenda and it certainly isn't a "strawman " argument. Point to a single sentence that is a strawman. I illuminated facts. The rigid thinking is on your part in attempting to make dollar stores the nexus of evil in a community. The tragedy is that you don't realize that whatever you think of the industry, it serves a population of people that may not have any other option and it's not some vast conspiracy on the part of the $ dollar store.

[@elizabethpenny7732]

We are all being corralled.

[@twana79brown]

I live in a rural community and for me, I use Dollar General to pick up small items I may have ran out of or forgot. But we forget me utilizing DG is a luxury. Some have no choice to grocery shop from these places. What this piece is saying is they have over saturated areas with dollar stores that do not adeqetly meet our grocery needs and push out or deter grocery stores from coming in to these rural areas and food deserts. There has to be a happy medium to serve all people what they need.

[@nicolejohnston8597]

No filler general in my area has any type of fresh produce!! Most of our DG near us and any $1 stores are canned goods, boxed goods, house hold products and toys. We HAVE to go to Walmart! Lol

[@kingpowellii6004]

Dollar stores not creating food deserts 😂😂😂 there was no grocery store in the hood in the first place

[@endliarcheats2927]

Wal-Mart is the real culprit. Dollar, Family dollar stores are also culprits.

[@joet7136]

No, letting people shoplift without consequences is the real problem.

[@thurstonhowelliii335]

So it’s Dollar General that’s doing all of the shoplifting that’s creating food deserts?

[@merucrypoison296]

They always complain about them leaving but they never tell you why these stores are leaving

[@caseybrown2335]

Most of the products in the Dollar store are made form Bio-Engineered ingredients.

[@JS-zb1vv]

Every chain store is . Including grocery stores. You can’t sell “ organic “ in large chains. It’s easy to meet the FDA standards for organic. It’s a lie . The only real organic is if you grow it yourself.

[@bradsanders6954]

I REALLY doubt you can provide any proof of that. I know you cant.

[@lenaprice6239]

@@bradsanders6954 If it's not organic, then yes, it is bio-engineered. Why do you think it's selling for a dollar? ;)

[@320dufferin]

There is food from other countries too. Peanut butter from india and cookies from thailand etc. I don't purchase those items, but i haven't been in a dollar store in over a year. I prefer supermarket sales for most grocery needs and i buy things that are 50% off because they're expiring soon. After it's Walmart to complete.

[@bradsanders6954]

@@lenaprice6239 So everything not marked organic is bio engineered.....your gonna have a tough time pushing this idea....as long as your having fun no harm done.

[@USSHammerology]

I love the dollar stores! The people that work them are from the neighborhoods and also remember a lot of shoppers names.

[@SpcT0rres]

So are they passing laws to specifically target dollar stores because they are so successful they are putting their competition out of business? That doesnt seem right.

[@jackchop1576]

I thought Family Dollar was a discount store vs a dollar store. That was what my town said when they opened one.

[@thomasvankuiken6266]

NBC News, there is an enormous disconnect with the general population and wealthy east coast news media in this video. A very large disconnect and inaccuracy based on race. You just ignored a massive segment of the population who lives in rural communities and my brother is one of them. You are the American Pravda.

[@sandraphillips7827]

Contact them with your suggestions.

[@net9925]

Stupidest thing I've heard in a long time. Protesting the stores with the cheapest prices? Why don't you try protesting the big grocery conglomerates for their price gouging.

[@Wongseifu548]

You do realize what the business model of a company like dollar general is right

[@mel...s]

They don't have the cheapest prices. They don't offer healthy food. They usually sell smaller quantities but the prices are more expensive per unit. Any family dollar shopper knows they're not cheaper and are usually way more expensive.

[@net9925]

@@mel...s And the people who can only afford a small portion at a low price?........oh right, who cares. People usually shop at dollar stores because they have to or because they can get a good deal on something. That obviously isn't your reality.

[@hawkofthenorth4829]

So a dollar store chain disrupting grocery chain stores sales, how can we possibly survive. Forcing the stores to be competitive doesn't really seem like a negative.

[@LRCW1]

I buy the groceries I need where ever I get the best price. If I need for example frozen fruit or frozen vegetables & can buy a 1lb bag at Dollar Tree for &1.25 or a grocery store for $3.00 I'm buying at Dollar Tree. I can't get everything I need at Dollar Tree. I don't eat highly processed food therefore I still need to go to a grocery store. They (Dollar Tree) don't have the fresh produce or meats I often need so I get that at grocery stores. It's all about having enough food & to nourish your body & food security at the best price possible.

[@mel...s]

"Dollar stores" are not cheaper.

[@bellabookitty9014]

BINGO 🎯 YOU got that right !!!!!!!! They are now higher than WM and local GS 's prices . Why anyone shops there is beyond my comprehensive, especially if the 2 stores are in the same block and or parking lot .

[@TheBetterFilm]

Yall can say dollar stores are cheap etc. But their ceos sure ain't been on epsteins islands like the bigger supermarkets walmart etc..

[@johnw8436]

Actually dollar stores move into distressed neighborhoods when there are grocery deserts So yall should probably be grateful, because sounds like yall are going to need every dollar store yall can get in Portland, Or. And DC when the Walmart close...the other grocery stores will follow once they start getting stolen from cause Walmart is now gone Good luck.

[@sandraphillips7827]

“Ya’ll” today and you tomorrow. Be careful what you gloat about.

[@johnw8436]

@@sandraphillips7827 hasn't been us for hundreds of years. I guess I'll just keep waiting

[@ivorywhite7161]

The solution is simple, if the neighborhood doesn't want those stores around don't shop their.