May 27--Bolstered by another strong quarter with a 38.5 percent increase in earnings, Dollar Tree Inc.'s CEO championed the chain's "positive momentum" and continued growth.

Net income in the first quarter, which ended May 2, climbed to $60.4 million from $43.6 million in the same period of 2008. Earnings per share were 66 cents, up from 48 cents.

Bob Sasser, Dollar Tree's president and CEO, said he was particularly pleased about the quarter's performance after a strong first quarter last year, when earnings rose 14 percent from 2007.

In the 2009 quarter, the retailer saw increased traffic and successful sales of Easter and spring merchandise, as well as ongoing customer interest in food and basic household supplies, Sasser said.

"We have a concept that customers love," he said. "We have business model that's strong and flexible."

Dollar Tree, which is based in Chesapeake and owns the nation's largest chain selling everything for $1 or less, previously announced that sales for the quarter reached $1.2 billion, an increase of 14.2 percent. Sales in comparable stores -- or those open at least 12 months, providing the best year-over-year measurement -- rose 9.2 percent.

The company opened 79 stores in the quarter, bringing the total to 3,667 nationwide. "While many retailers have pulled back or stopped store expansion, not so at Dollar Tree," Sasser said.

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