Earnings summaries and quarterly performance for Lifeway Foods.
Research analysts covering Lifeway Foods.
Recent press releases and 8-K filings for LWAY.
Lifeway Foods Projects Record 2025 Net Sales and Announces Conference Participation
LWAY
Guidance Update
Revenue Acceleration/Inflection
- Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY) anticipates record-breaking net sales for the year ended December 31, 2025, projected to be in the range of $211 million to $212.5 million.
- The company will participate in the ICR Conference on January 13, 2026, where President and CEO Julie Smolyansky will discuss Lifeway's growth and market leadership.
Jan 8, 2026, 9:34 PM
Lifeway Foods Projects Record 2025 Net Sales and Announces ICR Conference Participation
LWAY
Guidance Update
Revenue Acceleration/Inflection
- Lifeway Foods expects record-breaking net sales for the year ended December 31, 2025, projected to be in the range of $211.0 million to $212.5 million.
- Lifeway President and CEO Julie Smolyansky will discuss the company's growth at the ICR Conference on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Orlando, Florida.
Jan 8, 2026, 9:05 PM
Lifeway Foods Applauds New Federal Dietary Guidelines
LWAY
New Projects/Investments
Revenue Acceleration/Inflection
- Lifeway Foods, Inc. welcomed the release of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which endorse full-fat dairy and highlight fermented foods, specifically calling out kefir for its potential role in supporting a healthy microbiome.
- The company anticipates these new guidelines will create meaningful tailwinds for both institutional and retail growth and strengthen Lifeway's demand durability and relevance, as they inform nutrition standards across various federal programs.
- Lifeway's President and CEO, Julie Smolyansky, stated that the recognition of kefir for gut health validates their mission and reinforces the product's place in the American diet.
- Lifeway plans to expand education, retail partnerships, and media outreach to help consumers align with the new guidelines and will continue investing in innovation that supports protein-forward, gut-healthy lifestyles.
Jan 7, 2026, 10:25 PM
Lifeway Foods, Inc. Reports Strong FY24 Revenue Growth and Product Innovation
LWAY
Revenue Acceleration/Inflection
Product Launch
New Projects/Investments
- Lifeway Foods, Inc. reported FY24 revenue of $186.8 million, representing a 16.7% growth over FY23, and achieved a 16.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from FY20 to FY24.
- The company is the #1 Kefir and Farmer Cheese Brand in the U.S. and has been a category leader for over 35 years.
- In 2025, Lifeway launched Muscle Mates, a new functional beverage, and relaunched its Basics Plus line of kefir and colostrum supplement shots, demonstrating continued product innovation.
- Lifeway reported a gross profit of $48.6 million in FY24 and had no outstanding bank debt at December 31, 2024, indicating a strong financial position.
Dec 29, 2025, 6:01 PM
Lifeway Foods Shareholder Highlights ISS Governance Concerns
LWAY
Board Change
Executive Compensation
Proxy Vote Outcomes
- Edward Smolyansky, Lifeway Foods' largest individual shareholder, highlighted critical governance concerns identified by Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) in its recent proxy analysis.
- ISS questioned Lifeway's shareholder engagement, noting it was led by the Chief of Staff (CEO's spouse), who holds no officer or board position, rather than by board members, raising concerns about transparency and potential conflicts.
- The ISS report also cited issues including a 2021 major acquisition executed without formal board approval, the combination of CEO and chair roles, ongoing concerns with executive compensation, and the renewal of a poison pill without shareholder vote.
- Smolyansky, who intends to nominate himself and George Sent for election as directors at the 2025 Annual Meeting, urged shareholders to review ISS's findings.
Dec 19, 2025, 3:26 PM
Lifeway Foods Shareholder Edward Smolyansky Calls for Withhold Vote on Legacy Directors
LWAY
Board Change
Legal Proceedings
Proxy Vote Outcomes
- Edward Smolyansky, the largest individual shareholder of Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY), released key findings from a 2023 sworn deposition highlighting alleged governance breakdowns under former CEO/Chair Julie Smolyansky and a failure of legacy directors, Dorri McWhorter and Jason Scher, to hold management accountable.
- The deposition testimony of current Board Chairperson Dorri McWhorter revealed her unawareness of a 2023 investor campaign, whistleblower claims, and the Board's lack of approval for the 2021 Glen Oaks acquisition prior to its announcement.
- Smolyansky alleges that the Board demonstrated selective enforcement of conduct policies, aggressively scrutinizing former COO Edward Smolyansky while failing to investigate similar conduct by the CEO.
- Shareholders are urged to WITHHOLD votes from Dorri McWhorter, Julie Smolyansky, and Jason Scher at the upcoming Annual Meeting and to vote FOR the election of Edward Smolyansky and George Sent.
Dec 15, 2025, 7:40 PM
Lifeway Foods Shareholder Edward Smolyansky Provides Critical Campaign Update
LWAY
Board Change
Executive Compensation
M&A
- Edward Smolyansky, Lifeway Foods' largest shareholder and a director nominee, is urging shareholders to vote FOR his and George Sent's nominations, FOR Proposal 6, and to WITHHOLD votes from current directors Julie Smolyansky, Dorri McWhorter, and Jason Scher.
- Smolyansky advocates for reconstituting an independent Board and empowering a Strategic Review Committee to initiate a credible sale process, citing previous mishandled offers from Danone of $25 and $27 per share for the company.
- He criticizes Lifeway's excessive executive compensation practices, highlighting an $8 million total package for the CEO, and points to stagnating operating income and declining EBITDA margins as evidence of leadership issues.
Dec 11, 2025, 6:58 PM
Lifeway Foods Shareholder Edward Smolyansky Files Definitive Proxy Statement for Board Change
LWAY
Board Change
Executive Compensation
Takeover Bid
- Edward Smolyansky, who along with his mother holds an aggregate 26.17% stake in Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY), has filed a Definitive Proxy Statement to pursue comprehensive board change at the company.
- Smolyansky has nominated George Sent and himself for election as directors, arguing that the recent Cooperation Agreement with Danone did not go far enough to ensure a well-constituted board and that certain legacy directors and new nominees lack relevant skills.
- The filing raises concerns about the Board's rejection of Danone's takeover bid of $27 per share, which represented a 72% premium, and highlights alleged self-dealing, including a $8.5 million grant in shares and cash bonuses to the CEO in December 2024.
- Further governance issues cited include Lead Independent Director Jason Scher selling 24,566 of his 24,567 shares in June 2025 at an average price of $24.23, and the extension of a poison pill on October 29, 2025.
Dec 5, 2025, 7:50 PM
Lifeway Foods Addresses Dissident Director Nominations and Announces Board Appointments
LWAY
Board Change
Proxy Vote Outcomes
- Lifeway Foods, Inc. issued a letter to shareholders regarding Edward Smolyansky's intent to nominate himself and George Sent as dissident directors, citing disqualifying track records and ethical failures for both nominees.
- The company highlighted Edward Smolyansky's termination for cause as COO in 2022 and a $10.4 million mortgage default in 2025, alongside his mother's $2.3 million in federal and state tax liens, suggesting personal financial distress as a driver for their demands for a company sale.
- Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) previously advised shareholders to "DO NOT VOTE" on the dissident group's proposals in July 2025, stating the group "has not presented a compelling case for change" and acknowledging Lifeway's "financial performance has been directionally positive".
- Lifeway reported strong financial performance, including a 788% total shareholder return over the past five years, ~123% revenue growth since FY2019, and $57.1 million in net sales for Q3 2025, marking six years of uninterrupted quarterly net sales growth.
- The Board of Directors appointed Kirk Chartier and Susan Hultquist as new directors on November 26, 2025, and the Annual Meeting date was changed to December 29, 2025.
Dec 1, 2025, 9:17 PM
Lifeway Foods Expands Farmer Cheese Distribution to Walmart
LWAY
Product Launch
New Projects/Investments
Revenue Acceleration/Inflection
- Lifeway Foods, Inc. announced that its Farmer Cheese is now available in 2,000 Walmart stores nationwide.
- This distribution expansion reflects growing momentum and increased consumer demand in the cottage cheese and cultured dairy category.
- Lifeway Farmer Cheese is a protein-rich offering made with live and active cultures, containing 15 grams of protein per serving and no added salt or sugar.
Nov 21, 2025, 8:05 PM
Quarterly earnings call transcripts for Lifeway Foods.
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