The problem with being a store that sells discount goods is that you have to sell five times as many products as anyone else to plug the hole when times are hard. Discount and bargain stores like 99 Cents Only were once popular choices for individuals and families working to a budget, but the introduction of budget lines within mainstream high street stores has reduced the need for their existence. Walmart, in particular, has been taking more of their market share with every passing year.
Behind the scenes, 99 Cents Only has been struggling to stay alive for years, and after 35 years may have exceeded its natural lifespan. Recent overall owners of the company have included Canada Pension Plan, Ares Management, and even an unnamed private family. New CEO Jack Sinclair says the company has begun to turn a profit, but after losing over $70m in 2017 alone, it still has a mountain to climb.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.