BETHEL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Dollar General Corp. celebrated the opening of a new distribution center here on May 31.

Dollar General Corp. celebrated the opening of a new distribution center here on May 31.

Vendors’ products began arriving at the 930,000-square-foot facility in December. In January, the center began supplying merchandise to Dollar General stores in seven states. Officials say that the retailer’s 12th distribution center should be serving 1,000 stores in the East and Midwest by year’s end.

Dollar General is adding stores as deep discounters continue to outperform the broader retail sector in terms of same-store-sales growth. Analysts covering the company expect Dollar General to report a 2.6% increase in first quarter same-store sales. That growth pace has been slowing, however, as the discounter’s low-income customers are buffeted by stagnant wages and cuts in the nation’s food stamp ­program.

The company says it has more U.S. retail locations than any other retailer. Dollar General ended its most recent fiscal year with 11,132 stores in 40 states, up from 10,506 stores at the end of the previous year. Many of its stores are in small towns that tend to be bypassed by larger retailers. About 25% of its merchandise is priced at $1 or less. Stores offer household products, health and beauty aids, apparel, food, and other items. In addition to private label merchandise, the company offers products from some of the nation’s best-known suppliers, including Coca-Cola Co., Procter & Gamble Co., PepsiCo Inc., Kellogg Co. and Kimberly-Clark Corp.

Dollar General’s new distribution center is being run by 400 full-time employees, but that number is expected to rise to 500.

"Our keystone location to markets, improving infrastructure and workforce of more than 6.4 million of the hardest working people in America drive companies like Dollar General to locate and invest in Pennsylvania," Gov. Tom Corbett says.

Dollar General’s other distribution centers are located in Scottsville, Ky.; Ardmore, Okla.; South Boston, Va.; Indianola, Miss.; Fulton, Mo.; Jonesville, S.C.; Alachua, Fla.; Zanesville, Ohio; Marion, Ind.; Bessemer, Ala.; and Lebec, Calif.