TOP TAKEAWAYS
- Demand for consumables is pressuring margins, and inflation is also impacting costs
- Frozen foods for family meals are a key area of focus
- Private label sales growth has outpaced national brands for past 39 weeks
Inflation has become a two-edged sword for Dollar Tree, as consumers seeking bargains are driving sales and profit growth but rising costs and a shift toward lower-margin consumable items are expected to pressure margins in the near term.
In a conference call with investors discussing results for the fiscal third quarter on Thursday, executives at the Chesapeake, Va.-based retailer said shoppers are stepping up their purchases of grocery items, which are outpacing the growth of high-margin discretionary purchases.
As a result of that shift, combined with other rising cost pressures, such as freight, the…
