How This Premium Food Brand Ends Up At Dollar Tree For Less Than $2

Dollar stores have long been a bastion of incredibly cheap greeting cards, plastic jewelry, small toys, party supplies, and assorted household items. But in recent years, many have started carrying groceries as well. A 2023 report by Tufts University School of Medicine found that dollar stores had become the most rapidly expanding food retailers in the U.S., as they are increasingly stocking all kinds of edible goods — including those from premium food brands. If you're a fan of organic items, you'll be happy to know that even Annie's Homegrown has a home on Dollar Tree's shelves. 

Although it typically costs more at regular grocery stores, Dollar Tree's selection of Annie's products is priced just as low as the items it shares shelf space with. In fact, multiple customers in recent years have expressed their surprise at finding low-priced Annie's products at the store's various locations, including Annie's gluten-free granola bars, tomato soup, salad dressing, and other items, all of which are priced at Dollar Tree's regular rate of $1.25. The low pricing is likely possible thanks to the reach of Annie's parent company and Dollar Tree's behind-the-scenes distribution deals.

Annie's Homegrown has not been explicit about how its products are distributed, but the likely reason its items are appearing in Dollar Tree locations is that it's owned by General Mills. The food manufacturing giant acquired Annie's back in 2014, when the latter had about 145 products sold across more than 35,000 retail locations in North America. While the number of stores carrying Annie's items is not clear, other General Mills-owned brands like Pillsbury are among the grocery products you'll find at Dollar Tree. It only makes sense that Annie's Homegrown items followed other General Mills products onto Dollar Tree's shelves.

Now, Annie's items are not listed on the Dollar Tree website as part of the store's regular product selection. However, per Dollar Tree's 2024 Annual Report, the store's direct relationships with manufacturers give it greater control over product sourcing; along with its vast buying power, this enables it to get special stock at lower price points. Just as a certain premium coffee brand has been found at Dollar Tree for only $2, Facebook user Dollar Tree Dollie posted about bottles of Annie's salad dressing being an "unreal Dollar Tree Find" at only $1.25 each. They usually cost $5 and up elsewhere. Although "shrinkflation" has been a factor with other name-brand products at Dollar Tree, those Annie's salad dressing bottles appear to be the same 8-ounce versions found elsewhere, indicating a different kind of distribution deal. 

Realistically, Annie's items may only pop up at your local Dollar Tree on occasion, based on when the store is able to snag a good deal on them. In fact, only 33% of Dollar Tree's products are automatically replenished, according to its 2024 annual report, with the remaining offerings varying by store. So, it's entirely possible that other deals are still made behind the scenes to get Annie's on the low-cost shelves from time to time. 

While no information has officially been released regarding Annie's offerings at Dollar Tree, dollar stores have been subject to a lot of scrutiny for selling food products close to their expiration dates. In 2019, Dollar Tree was one of a few dollar store chains fined for selling expired products. A WRTV news report from 2019 likewise described a customer who purchased a frozen pizza that year with a best-buy date in 2017. That's not to say Annie's products at your local Dollar Tree are going to be expired, but you will want to take a closer look at the label before you jump on what seems like an absurdly good deal.