Lawmakers impeach presidentReports Record Sales and Earnings Increases Quarterly Cash Dividend by 20% to $0.12 per Common Share LAKEWOOD, Colo. , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. NGVC today announced results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and provided its outlook for fiscal 2025. Highlights for Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Net sales increased 9.3% to $322.7 million ; Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.1%, and increased 14.0% on a two-year basis; Net income increased 53.2% to $9.0 million , with diluted earnings per share of $0.39 ; and Adjusted EBITDA was $22.6 million . Highlights for Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023 Net sales increased 8.9% to $1.24 billion ; Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.0%, and increased 10.6% on a two-year basis; 21 st consecutive year of positive comparable store sales growth; Net income increased 46.0% to $33.9 million , with diluted earnings per share of $1.47 ; Adjusted EBITDA was $83.3 million ; and Opened four new stores and relocated/remodeled four stores. "Our outstanding fourth quarter and fiscal year results underscore our customers' appreciation for our commitment to the exceptional quality, value and convenience provided by our innovative business model along with consumers' increasing prioritization of products that support health and sustainability," said Kemper Isely , Co-President. "Our commitment to offering the highest quality products at Always Affordable SM prices is distinctive in the market and has been pivotal to our success. Fourth quarter results were broadly positive with daily average comparable store sales growth of 7.1% and 14.0% on a two-year basis, as well as a 53% increase in net income. We are particularly pleased with the balanced nature of our sales growth in fiscal 2024, including increases in transaction counts and items per transaction, modest price inflation and sales contribution from new stores." Mr. Isely continued, "The combination of consumer trends and our focus on customer engagement and operational initiatives have driven our sustained growth. Over the previous five years we have grown net sales by 37%, and diluted earnings per share have more than tripled. Furthermore, during this period we returned $108 million in capital to our stockholders through $4.76 of cumulative cash dividends per common share. As we look forward to fiscal 2025, we expect to build upon our momentum by continuing to execute to our founding principles, leveraging our differentiated model and emphasizing operational excellence to drive profitable growth." In addition to presenting the financial results of Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the Company) in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company is also presenting EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliation from GAAP to these non-GAAP financial measures is provided at the end of this earnings release. Operating Results — Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2023 Net sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $27.6 million , or 9.3%, to $322.7 million , compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, due to a $21.0 million increase in comparable store sales and a $6.6 million increase in new store sales. Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.1% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, comprised of a 3.6% increase in daily average transaction count and a 3.4% increase in daily average transaction size. The increase in net sales was driven by increases in transaction counts, items per transaction, retail prices and new store sales. Sales growth was driven by enhanced customer engagement with our {N}power ® rewards program, compelling offers, marketing initiatives, and increased sales of Natural Grocers® brand products. Gross profit during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased $11.0 million , or 13.1%, to $95.4 million , compared to $84.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Gross profit reflects earnings after product and store occupancy costs. Gross margin increased 100 basis points to 29.6% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, compared to 28.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in gross margin was driven by store occupancy cost leverage and higher product margin. Store expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 10.2% to $72.6 million , primarily driven by higher compensation expenses and long-lived asset impairment charges related to a planned store closure. Store expenses as a percentage of net sales were 22.5% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, up from 22.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The increase in store expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily driven by higher long-lived asset impairment charges partially offset by expense leverage. Administrative expenses during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 4.4% to $10.2 million . Administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, down from 3.3% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 increased 56.0% to $12.1 million . Operating margin during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was 3.7%, up from 2.6% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $9.0 million , or $0.39 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $5.9 million , or $0.26 diluted earnings per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 was $22.6 million , compared to $16.1 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Operating Results — Fiscal 2024 Compared to Fiscal 2023 Net sales during fiscal 2024 increased $101.0 million , or 8.9%, to $1,241.6 million , compared to fiscal 2023, due to an $83.0 million increase in comparable store sales and a $22.6 million increase in new store sales, partially offset by a $4.6 million decrease in sales related to closed stores. Daily average comparable store sales increased 7.0% in fiscal 2024, comprised of a 3.8% increase in daily average transaction count and a 3.1% increase in daily average transaction size. The increase in net sales was driven by increases in transaction counts, retail prices, items per transaction and new store sales. Sales growth was driven by enhanced customer engagement with our {N}power rewards program, compelling offers, marketing initiatives including market-specific campaigns, and increased sales of Natural Grocers brand products. Gross profit during fiscal 2024 increased $37.9 million , or 11.6%, to $364.8 million . Gross profit reflects earnings after product and store occupancy costs. Gross margin increased 70 basis points to 29.4% during fiscal 2024, compared to 28.7% in 2023. The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by store occupancy cost leverage and higher product margin attributed to effective pricing and promotions. Store expenses during fiscal 2024 increased 7.8% to $277.4 million , primarily driven by higher compensation expenses, depreciation expenses and long-lived asset impairment charges. Store expenses as a percentage of net sales were 22.3% during fiscal 2024, down from 22.6% in fiscal 2023. The decrease in store expenses as a percentage of net sales primarily reflects expense leverage. Administrative expenses during fiscal 2024 increased 7.6% to $38.7 million , driven by higher compensation expenses. Administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales were 3.1% for fiscal 2024, down from 3.2% in fiscal 2023. Operating income for fiscal 2024 increased 48.3% to $47.0 million . Operating margin during fiscal 2024 was 3.8%, up from 2.8% in fiscal 2023. Net income for fiscal 2024 was $33.9 million , or $1.47 diluted earnings per share, compared to net income of $23.2 million , or $1.02 diluted earnings per share, for fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2024 was $83.3 million , compared to $63.4 million in fiscal 2023. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow As of September 30, 2024 , the Company had $8.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, and no amounts outstanding on its $75.0 million revolving credit facility. During fiscal 2024, the Company generated $73.8 million in cash from operations and invested $38.6 million in net capital expenditures, primarily for new and relocated/remodeled stores. Dividend Announcement Today, the Company announced the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 per common share, a 20% increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. The dividend will be paid on December 18, 2024 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2024 . Growth and Development During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 the Company opened one new store, ending the fourth quarter with 169 stores in 21 states. A total of four new stores were opened during fiscal 2024. Fiscal 2025 Outlook The Company is introducing its fiscal 2025 outlook. The Company expects: Fiscal 2025 Outlook Number of new stores 4 to 6 Number of relocations/remodels 2 to 4 Daily average comparable store sales growth 4.0% to 6.0% Diluted earnings per share $1.52 to $1.60 Capital expenditures (in millions) $36 to $44 Earnings Conference Call The Company will host a conference call today at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time ( 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time ) to discuss this earnings release. The dial-in number is 1-888-347-6606 (US) or 1-412-902-4289 (International). The conference ID is "Natural Grocers Q4 FY 2024 Earnings Call." A simultaneous audio webcast will be available at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com and archived for a minimum of 20 days. About Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. NGVC is an expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body care products and dietary supplements. The products sold by Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only USDA certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised, non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean and convenient retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. The Company, founded in 1955, has 168 stores in 21 states. Visit www.NaturalGrocers.com for more information and store locations. Forward-Looking Statements The following constitutes a "safe harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical information contained herein, statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" and are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from these expectations due to changes in global, national, regional or local political, economic, inflationary, deflationary, recessionary, business, interest rate, labor market, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors, and other risks detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by the securities laws. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company's business, please refer to the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections of the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Form 10-K and the Company's subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, copies of which may be obtained by contacting Investor Relations at 303-986-4600 or by visiting the Company's website at http://Investors.NaturalGrocers.com . Investor Contact: Reed Anderson , ICR, 646-277-1260, reed.anderson@icrinc.com NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three months ended September 30, Year ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net sales $ 322,661 295,075 1,241,585 1,140,568 Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs 227,299 210,730 876,775 813,637 Gross profit 95,362 84,345 364,810 326,931 Store expenses 72,605 65,863 277,396 257,282 Administrative expenses 10,241 9,807 38,715 35,973 Pre-opening expenses 450 938 1,722 2,007 Operating income 12,066 7,737 46,977 31,669 Interest expense, net (1,053) (821) (4,176) (3,299) Income before income taxes 11,013 6,916 42,801 28,370 Provision for income taxes (2,003) (1,036) (8,866) (5,127) Net income $ 9,010 5,880 33,935 23,243 Net income per share of common stock: Basic $ 0.40 0.26 1.49 1.02 Diluted $ 0.39 0.26 1.47 1.02 Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding: Basic 22,799,571 22,738,284 22,774,825 22,725,088 Diluted 23,175,214 22,945,750 23,083,903 22,834,316 NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) September 30, 2024 2023 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,871 18,342 Accounts receivable, net 12,610 10,797 Merchandise inventory 120,672 119,260 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,905 4,151 Total current assets 147,058 152,550 Property and equipment, net 178,609 169,060 Other assets: Operating lease assets, net 275,111 287,941 Finance lease assets, net 40,752 45,110 Other assets 458 395 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 13,488 14,129 Total other assets 329,809 347,575 Total assets $ 655,476 669,185 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 88,397 80,675 Accrued expenses 35,847 33,064 Term loan, current portion — 1,750 Operating lease obligations, current portion 35,926 34,850 Finance lease obligations, current portion 3,960 3,690 Total current liabilities 164,130 154,029 Long-term liabilities: Term loan, net of current portion — 5,938 Operating lease obligations, net of current portion 263,404 276,808 Finance lease obligations, net of current portion 43,217 47,142 Deferred income tax liabilities, net 10,471 14,427 Total long-term liabilities 317,092 344,315 Total liabilities 481,222 498,344 Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value. 50,000,000 shares authorized, 22,888,540 and 22,745,412 shares issued at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and 22,888,540 and 22,738,915 shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively 23 23 Additional paid-in capital 60,327 59,013 Retained earnings 113,904 111,871 Common stock in treasury at cost, 6,497 shares at September 30, 2023 — (66) Total stockholders' equity 174,254 170,841 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 655,476 669,185 NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands) Year ended September 30, 2024 2023 Operating activities: Net income $ 33,935 23,243 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 30,930 28,906 Loss on impairment of long-lived assets and store closing costs 2,102 1,268 Loss on disposal of property and equipment 10 379 Share-based compensation 2,829 1,360 Deferred income tax benefit (3,955) (1,475) Non-cash interest expense 17 19 Other (160) — Changes in operating assets and liabilities: (Increase) decrease in: Accounts receivable, net (1,790) 315 Income tax receivable 252 378 Merchandise inventory (1,412) (5,504) Prepaid expenses and other assets (1,069) (128) Operating lease assets 33,446 33,067 (Decrease) increase in: Operating lease liabilities (34,197) (33,899) Accounts payable 10,039 10,350 Accrued expenses 2,783 6,327 Net cash provided by operating activities 73,760 64,606 Investing activities: Acquisition of property and equipment (37,541) (36,568) Acquisition of other intangibles (1,139) (1,525) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 37 107 Proceeds from property insurance settlements 43 36 Net cash used in investing activities (38,600) (37,950) Financing activities: Borrowings under revolving loans 604,200 531,100 Repayments under revolving loans (604,200) (531,100) Repayments under term loan (7,688) (8,000) Finance lease obligation payments (3,610) (2,779) Dividends to shareholders (31,866) (9,089) Repurchase of common stock — (181) Payments of deferred financing costs (18) — Payments on withholding tax for restricted stock unit vesting (1,449) (304) Net cash used in financing activities (44,631) (20,353) Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (9,471) 6,303 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 18,342 12,039 Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 8,871 18,342 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid for interest $ 2,216 1,305 Cash paid for interest on financing lease obligations, net of capitalized interest of $338 and $318, respectively 1,939 2,002 Income taxes paid 13,581 5,048 Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities: Acquisition of property and equipment not yet paid $ 3,679 6,016 Acquisition of other intangibles not yet paid 22 3 Property acquired through operating lease obligations 22,317 15,274 Property acquired through finance lease obligations (45) 5,724 NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE, INC. Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of financial performance under GAAP. We define EBITDA as net income before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA as adjusted to exclude the effects of certain income and expense items that management believes make it more difficult to assess the Company's actual operating performance, including certain items such as impairment charges, store closing costs, share-based compensation and non-recurring items. The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, dollars in thousands: Three months ended September 30, Year ended September 30, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net income $ 9,010 5,880 33,935 23,243 Interest expense, net 1,053 821 4,176 3,299 Provision for income taxes 2,003 1,036 8,866 5,127 Depreciation and amortization 7,932 7,480 30,930 28,906 EBITDA 19,998 15,217 77,907 60,575 Impairment of long-lived assets and store closing costs 1,721 534 2,547 1,464 Share-based compensation 929 314 2,829 1,360 Adjusted EBITDA $ 22,648 16,065 83,283 63,399 EBITDA increased 31.4% to $20.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $15.2 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. EBITDA increased 28.6% to $77.9 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $60.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 . EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.2% and 5.2% for the fourth quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.3% and 5.3% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA increased 41.0% to $22.6 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 compared to $16.1 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Adjusted EBITDA increased 31.4% to $83.3 million for the year ended September 30, 2024 compared to $63.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2023 . Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 7.0% and 5.4% for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of net sales was 6.7% and 5.6% for the years ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Management believes some investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. We believe EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide additional information about: (i) our operating performance, because they assist us in comparing the operating performance of our stores on a consistent basis, as they remove the impact of non-cash depreciation and amortization expense as well as items not directly resulting from our core operations, such as interest expense and income taxes and (ii) our performance and the effectiveness of our operational strategies. Additionally, EBITDA is a component of a measure in our financial covenants under our credit facility. Furthermore, management believes some investors use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental measures to evaluate the overall operating performance of companies in our industry. Management believes that some investors' understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations. By providing these non-GAAP financial measures, together with a reconciliation from net income, we believe we are enhancing investors' understanding of our business and our results of operations, as well as assisting investors in evaluating how well we are executing our strategic initiatives. Our competitors may define EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently, and as a result, our measures of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be directly comparable to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA of other companies. Items excluded from EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to, or substitute for, net income or other financial statement data presented in the consolidated financial statements as indicators of financial performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations are: EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any depreciation or interest expense for leases classified as finance leases; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt; Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect share-based compensation, impairment charges, and store closing costs; EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect our tax expense or the cash requirements to pay our taxes; and although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements. Due to these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business. We compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as supplemental information. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-grocers-by-vitamin-cottage-announces-fiscal-2024-fourth-quarter-and-full-year-results-302313348.html SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.The 2024-25 swimming season is here in New Jersey. Several perennial powerhouses are back for more this winter, while some other programs are looking to crack into the state’s elite. Have a look below at the favorites and contenders in each group this year. Girls swimming Boys swimming RECOMMENDED • nj .com Returning All-Stars and swimmers to keep on your radar, 2024-25 Dec. 2, 2024, 5:30 p.m. Top storylines to follow for the 2024-25 swimming season Dec. 3, 2024, 3:30 p.m. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) PJ Potter may be reached at PPotter@njadvancemedia.com .jili1111 。

IShowSpeed hits back at Tyreek Hill’s $100K race challenge with even bigger wagerSuperannuation is one of the most important financial tools for securing your , but how does your balance stack up against the average for Australians in your age group? Understanding where you stand can provide valuable insight into whether you're on track for the lifestyle you envision in retirement—whether that's a comfortable retirement with plenty of financial freedom or a more modest lifestyle covering the basics. Different retirement lifestyles Firstly, let's look at what a comfortable and modest lifestyle in retirement means according to Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia ( ). It is the peak policy, research and advocacy body for Australia's superannuation industry. ASFA describes a comfortable retirement as follows: The comfortable retirement standard allows retirees to maintain a good standard of living in their post work years. It accounts for daily essentials, such as groceries, transport and home repairs, as well as private health insurance, a range of exercise and leisure activities and the occasional restaurant meal. Importantly it enables retirees to remain connected to family and friends virtually – through technology, and in person with an annual domestic trip and an international trip once every seven years. Whereas a modest retirement strips back on things like international trips and leisure activities. It is described as: The modest retirement standard budgets for a retirement lifestyle that is slightly above the Age Pension and allows retirees to afford basic health insurance and infrequent exercise, leisure and social activities with family and friends. What do you need? Based on the assumption that the retirees own their own home outright and are relatively healthy, a comfortable retirement currently requires the following superannuation at 67: For a modest retirement, significantly less is required: How do you compare? That's how much you need, but how much superannuation do Australians actually have? Here's the most recent data according to QSuper: Do you have enough to retire comfortably? This is a difficult question to answer because everybody is different. But you can use a calculator like to plug in your numbers and find out whether or not you are on track to retire comfortably. If you are on track, that's great! If not, don't be too disheartened. Making extra superannuation contributions could help you get to target by the time you retire. But it is worth remembering that the comfortable retirement figures are for today. Due to inflation, someone that is now in their 20s will likely require significantly more when they reach retirement age compared with someone that is about to retire. So, always aim for more superannuation than you think you will need. It's certainly better to have too much than too little.

Zestt Wellness co-founders Darcy Schack and Anna Campbell showcase their Zestt Breathe+ lozenges at their Stafford St offices. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON A Dunedin bioactives company has devised a plant-based lozenge to help people sleep and breathe easier. Tim Scott chats to Zestt Wellness co-founder Anna Campbell about the product. Helping a 90-year-old woman to sleep and breathe better was what made Anna Campbell realise her company’s product could make a difference. The co-founder of Dunedin bioactives company Zestt Wellness said people experiencing daily respiratory problems could notice a difference ‘‘straight away’’ thanks to Zestt Breathe+ — a nutraceutical plant-based lozenge and liquid which helped reduce some of the symptoms associated with inflammation in the lungs and increased oxygen levels around the body. One customer from the United States had rung to tell her about the difference the product had made to his 90-year-old mother, who suffered from a respiratory illness but was now able to breathe and sleep better, Dr Campbell said. ‘‘At the end of the phone call, he just said to me, ‘God bless you’. ‘‘I’m not a religious person or anything, but I kind of realised then what a great honour it was to be able to help people. ‘‘That was a really big moment and I’ve had lots of customers contact us that are just so happy with the product.’’ Dr Campbell, who has a background in plant biotechnology, said the business was started because her fellow co-founder Darcy Schack suffered from the autoimmune disease sarcoidosis, which had led to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and had caused a lot of inflammation in his respiratory system. He was needing to take 26 different pharmaceuticals, including some ‘‘pretty nasty’’ steroid doses, to downgrade the inflammation. ‘‘We’re both scientists, and we kind of figured out that there must be better ways of reducing inflammation than having to take 26 pharmaceuticals.’’ The lozenge, originally developed in liquid form, was marketed for those who wanted to breathe and sleep better, she said. It contained anthocyanins, quercetin, zinc, New Zealand rātā honey and an oral probiotic from fellow Dunedin biotech company Blis Technologies. Dr Campbell said Zestt had been selling the product as a nutraceutical to the New Zealand market for the past four years and was looking to expand to China, the US and Australia. It is in the middle of clinic trials with the University of Otago and Dunedin Hospital, and the pilot trials had produced some ‘‘really good results’’ that showed the product did reduce inflammation and helped promote oxygen around the body. There were a lot of immunity products in the supplement industry but not as many that targeted the whole respiratory system, nor with the scientific rigour behind their product. The long-term aim was to sell the product as an over-the-counter medicine, as well as making it cheaper so it would be more accessible for people with low incomes, Dr Campbell said. It had so far proven ‘‘really popular’’, with some customers making close to 50 repeat orders since the lozenge was launched. Orders had been received from customers in Singapore, China, the US, United Kingdom and Germany — all by word of mouth, she said. As well as being organic and natural, the product was really high in antioxidants. ‘‘So it’s good for your lungs but it’s also good for your body.’’ The company began investigating the product about a year before the Covid-19 pandemic, and had heard from a lot of people that it had helped them recover faster from the virus, she said. Zestt tried to use New Zealand ingredients whenever it could, and Dr Campbell said it was her dream for the country to be seen as the health capital of the world. tim.scott@odt.co.nz

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It seemed too perfect that North Carolina would be playing at Boston's Fenway Park after Bill Belichick surprised everyone by taking the Tar Heels’ head coaching job. But despite the poetic setup, Belichick won’t be making a return to the city where he won multiple championships with the New England Patriots. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, North Carolina officials confirmed that Belichick will not attend the Fenway Bowl, where the Tar Heels (6-6) are set to face UConn (8-4) on Saturday morning. While his absence might surprise some fans, Belichick’s reasoning is aligned with his approach to his new role. “He’s totally dialed into building the roster," UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham told ESPN. "He didn’t want to go to practice or be a distraction to the kids or the coaches for the bowl game.” Since his hiring, Belichick has been laser-focused on recruiting and roster construction alongside his trusted confidant, Mike Lombardi. The duo has reportedly spent the weeks since his announcement in what Cunningham described as a "locked room," crafting the foundation for the program’s future. For Belichick, this meticulous preparation is the priority, not public appearances or bowl festivities. UNC, so far, has lost 13 players to the portal , while adding 10 and holding onto five of their own, per InsideCarolina. Interim coach Freddie Kitchens, who is set to join Belichick’s staff permanently, has taken the reins for the Fenway Bowl. The Fenway Bowl may be without its most notable new figure, but Belichick’s presence is already being felt in ways that go beyond a single game. His impact on the program’s direction signals that big changes are underway in Chapel Hill.

(KAR) is throwing its annual New Year’s Eve party and fireworks Dec. 31 and everyone is invited to come join the celebration. 5:30 – 8:15 p.m. Night skiing and riding. 7 – 9 p.m. Ski Hill Bash! Kids games and activities, fire spinners, kids entertainers, facepainting, pinata, BBQ, beer gardens and more. 8:55 p.m. Torch Light Parade. 9 p.m. – Fireworks presented by and KAR. Stemwinder Bar and Grill – NYE DJ Dance Party – starts after the fireworks until 1 a.m. Cover charge after 10 p.m. 19+ (no pre-purchased tickets). Find more information on KAR’s Events Calendar on its website. : The Torch Light Parade and fireworks on New Year’s Eve at Kimberley Alpine Resort.

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NoneConsidering the momentum acquired by renowned tokens like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB), Rexas Finance (RXS), a new entrant, is positioning itself to clock impressive growth. As the price and ecosystems of meme coins like DOGE and SHIB continue to capture the attention of investors, the community of RXS is gradually establishing itself as a disruptor by focusing on the tokenomics of physical assets. This article gives an analysis of the price forecasts of DOGE and SHIB while at the same time focussing on why Rexas Finance is set to record 15200% Gains in 4 Months. Rexas Finance: Transforming Real-World Asset Tokenization Rexas Finance (RXS) is a blockchain network that is built on turning physical assets, such as real estate or intellectual property into tokens for both private and institutional investors. This method of investment broadens opportunities and enhances tokenization and the liquidity of markets that would normally be classified as illiquid. With inventive tools such as Rexas Treasury, Rexas Token Builder, or Rexas GenAI—the AI that creates NFTs—the undertaking is changing the narrative of linking real assets with blockchain technology. At Stage 10, RXS Tokens are pegged at $0.15, and 97.34% of the targeted funds totaling $33.12 million have already been raised. Of the 380 million RXS allocated for presales, 369.9 million tokens have already been sold, indicating a strong demand from investors. In the next stage, the token price will rise to $0.175, whereas the expected listing price of $0.20 may have marked the starting point for a new and significant upward trend with exchange rates. For Rexas Finance, credibility remains to be the foundation. The project smart contracts have been duly audited by CertiK, ensuring security and reliability. Also, RXS is already available in places such as Coinmarketcap and CoinGecko, further cementing its space in the cryptocurrency industry. To enhance community involvement, the group has organized a $1 million giveaway program, where lucky 20 investors win 50,000 RXS tokens by participating in the activities and inviting friends to the presale. According to analysts, RXS can climb to $10 or more by 2025 due to its promising, innovative nature and resources targeted for further development. The initiative aims to address real-world challenges using blockchain technology, and its core components include Rexas Estate (real estate tokenization) and QuickMint Bot (token creation relatively quickly). Rexas Finance’s ability to connect tangible assets with the blockchain makes it suitable for capturing the asset tokenization space and being among the best-performing cryptocurrencies in the next bull cycle. Dogecoin: Riding the Meme Coin Wave Dogecoin (DOGE), the original meme coin, has once again proved superior in terms of the community-centered evolution of cryptocurrency. No matter the recent bearish market tendencies underlying, DOGE has gained a slight positive shift in performance measures over small thresholds of time. As Dogecoin is currently being traded at $0.3158013591, the 1 hr and the 4 hr trading charts slightly increased by 2.28% and 2.05%, respectively. However, it still traded 22.33% and 19.28% lower in the past 7 days and 30 days, respectively, indicating a market correction. Dogecoin’s active community, innovative partnerships, and payment acceptance significantly contribute to its growth in the next Bull Season. With a $46.51 billion market cap, I can surely agree that the coin is here to stay. It is also suggested that the value could reach between $0.75 and $1.20 by 2025, which will be caused by overall crypto adoption surrounding tokens and the increased use of tokens for micro-transactions in gaming. Shiba Inu (SHIB): Strengthening Its Ecosystem Though Shiba Inu (SHIB) is known as the Dogecoin Killer, Shiba Inu (SHIB) has proven over time that it is still competitive by improving its ecosystem. SHIB presently trades at $0.0000222123; its respective one-hour and four-hour changes were +2.2% and +5.11%, and its 24-hour trading volume was +2.3%. At least it does not trade as low as it did in the past but is still 21.63 and 10.54 percent lower than seven and thirty days, respectively. Shiba Inu’s concentration on broadening its utilities, especially its Layer-2 scaling solution Shibarium, positions it as a serious rival in the crypto ecosystem. In the future, the Shiba Inu economy will benefit and maybe even experience a time increase in value as its use increases. As they go into 2025, Shiba Inu anticipates the value to be somewhere near the $0.0001 - $0.00015 mark. This growth is expected from adopting Shibarium, deepening DeFi, and the increasing number of community investors. Conclusion: Rexas Finance Leads the Pack The cryptocurrency market is full of growth opportunities as it expands and matures as the world starts preparing for new economic paradigm shifts by 2025. The communities surrounding Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have helped both assets grow and still have a great amount of potential to mature as ecosystems. However, Rexas Finance stands out as a transformative project with the potential to redefine blockchain’s role in real-world asset integration. For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below: Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.