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December 20, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Lockrey, 614-525-7315
Jennifer.Lockrey@franklincountyohio.gov
Money From Dollar General Settlement Distributed to Franklin County Foodbanks
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Money from a legal settlement as a result of investigations into Dollar General stores by the Franklin County Auditor’s office and the Ohio Attorney General has been distributed to six local foodbanks, Auditor Michael Stinziano has announced.
The six Franklin County foodbanks each received $5,016.48 each as part of a legal settlement between the Attorney General’s office and Dollar General.
- All People’s Fresh Food Market, 946 Parsons Ave., Columbus
- Linden Market/Community of Caring Development Foundation, 1464 Cleveland Ave., Columbus
- Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, 14 W. Lakeview Ave., Columbus
- Gladden Community House, 318 S. Glenwood Ave., Columbus
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Food Pantry, 409 Industry Dr., Columbus
- St. Stephen’s Community House, 1500 E. 17th Ave., Columbus
“I am pleased to see that our investigations have led to support for some of the most vulnerable in our community,” Auditor Stinziano said. “The Auditor’s office will remain vigilant in protecting consumers from fraud and ensuring everyone gets what they pay for.”
In September 2022 the Auditor’s office checked all Dollar General stores in Franklin County (outside the city of Columbus, which has its own weights and measures division), and found that 8 out of 10 failed inspection because they were charging incorrect prices. In most cases, inspectors found that the scanned price was more expensive than the item was supposed to be. Many of the stores also failed a follow-up inspection. The Auditor’s office created a new sticker to notify consumers of the failed inspections, which was applied to the affected scanners or scales. The sticker was different than the standard sticker that certifies that a scanner or scale has passed inspection.
The failed inspections in Franklin County and in Butler County, Ohio, led the Ohio Attorney General to file suit against Dollar General in November 2022. The Attorney General and Dollar General settled the lawsuit for $1 million, most of which will be distributed to foodbanks across the state.
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Photo: Members of the Franklin County Auditor’s office weights and measures team pose with administrators of the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, one of six food pantries in Franklin County to receive funds from the Dollar General settlement from the Ohio Attorney General. The sticker shown certifies that a scale or scanner has passed inspection.
Additional opportunities for photo and video:
Gladden Food Pantry, 318 South Glenwood Avenue, Columbus Thursday, December 12 at 10 a.m.
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