Family Dollar Announces Plans for New Distribution Center in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida

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MATTHEWS, N.C., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FDO), one of the fastest growing discount store chains in the United States, announced plans for a new 907,000 square foot distribution center to be located on a 75 acre site in the Marianna Distribution Park in Marianna, Jackson County, Florida. The new facility is expected to be operational in early 2005. The Company expects to hire approximately 425 associates at the fully automated distribution facility and invest at least $50,000,000 in the project. In announcing plans for the new distribution center, R. David Alexander, Jr., President and Chief Operating Officer for Family Dollar, stated, "The Marianna Distribution Park is an ideal location for our 8th distribution facility. This is a region where Family Dollar has a heavy concentration of stores, and the Company continues to add new stores at a rapid pace as part of an aggressive store expansion program. This location in Jackson County offers outstanding access to major interstate highways. Most importantly, all of us who have had the opportunity to work with Governor Jeb Bush and other officials and representatives of the State of Florida, Jackson County, the City of Marianna, the Jackson County Development Council, Enterprise Florida, Inc. and the Chipola Regional Workforce Development Board have been impressed with their commitment to economic development and growth. There has been a real spirit of cooperation, and we have been made to feel very welcome. We at Family Dollar look forward to becoming an active member of the local community." Governor Jeb Bush stated, "I thank Family Dollar for its decision to place its regional distribution center in Jackson County. This is a major victory for Jackson County and North Florida as a whole. Family Dollar's full-time jobs and benefits package will add considerably to this Rural Area of Critical Economic Concern. This partnership between Family Dollar, Jackson County, and the State of Florida is something we can all be proud of." Family Dollar Stores, Inc., headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina, currently operates 5117 stores in 43 states and has fully automated distribution centers in Matthews, NC; West Memphis, AR; Warren County, VA; Duncan, OK; Rowan County, KY; Maquoketa, IA; and Odessa, TX. During the fiscal year ended August 30, 2003, the Company opened 475 new stores, and during the current fiscal year plans are to open approximately 565 new stores. The merchandising concept responsible for this growth provides consumers with good values in low cost, basic merchandise for family and home needs. Family Dollar Stores, Inc. is a publicly held corporation with its Common Stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol FDO.

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