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GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Though Dollar General's fourth-quarter sales growth came in at slightly below analysts' expectations, the company still is considered a good investment.

"Overall, longer term, the stock remains one of our top picks given the company's robust store growth opportunity and strong execution of its merchandising and operational initiatives," according to analysts at Bernstein Research.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway surprised analysts Thursday morning with fourth-quarter earnings per share of 62 cents, well above a consensus of 57 cents among analysts.

Total sales were up 0.9% to $12.8 billion in the fourth quarter. Higher fuel sales and an increase in the Canadian exchange rate were offset by reduced sales due to store closures and a 0.8% decline in identical-store sales, excluding fuel, the grocer reported. Same-store sales, excluding fuel, declined 0.5%. Fuel sales rose 23%.

Share value on the NYSE was up 14 cents in mid-day trading to $22.19.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's plans to open stores in the San Francisco Bay Area are under way, according to published reports.

The SF Bay Area store sites include Burlingame, Campbell, Castro Valley, El Cerrito, Los Gatos and Pleasanton, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The company initially announced plans to open approximately 15 new Lifestyle-format stores and complete approximately 60 Lifestyle remodels throughout its chain in its third-quarter earnings report last October. Safeway will report its fourth-quarter earnings Feb. 24.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Safeway announced that it has formed a fund to aid the victims of the recent shooting that occurred in one of its Tucson stores.

The company launched the fund with an initial contribution of $100,000 from the Safeway Foundation, and is encouraging in-store contributions from Safeway customers and community members in the company’s Arizona stores.

CALGARY, Alberta — Canada Safeway will be introducing four store-within-a-store Tim Hortons coffee outlets in December here and across Western Canada, the Calgary Herald reported Wednesday morning. The new outlets mark a new partnership with Tim Hortons, a Canada Safeway spokeswoman told the Herald, and should not impede Canada Safeway’s existing partnership with rival Starbucks.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday reported net income of $122.8 million for the third quarter ended Sept. 11, down 4.5% as compared with the year-ago period. Results for the third quarter included $12 million in employee severance charges, offset by a lower tax rate, compared with third quarter 2009.

YONKERS, N.Y. Shoppers shouldn't overlook store brands if they are looking for quality and ways to save money, according to a new Consumer Reports study.

Consumer Reports' price study -- which appears in the publication's October issue -- evaluated five supermarket chains and compared store- and name-brand prices for 30 everyday items at five chains, collecting a total of 283 price quotes. Consumer Reports found the average savings with store brands was 30%, but shoppers saved as much as 52% on some items.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT In the ever-evolving world of food retailing, two developments stood out last week.

(THE NEWS: Walgreens continues fight against food deserts in Chicago. For the full story, click here)