Lifeway Foods (LWAY) Q2 2025 Earnings Call August 12, 2025 09:00 AM ET Speaker0Good morning. Welcome to LifeWay Foods' Second Quarter twenty twenty five Conference Call. On the call with me today is Julie Smolensky, President and Chief Executive Officer. By now, everyone should have access to the press release that went out this morning. If you have not received the release, it is available on the Investor Relations portion of LifeWay's website at www.lifewayfoods.com.A recording of this call will be availa ...

Core Argument - The gut microbiome, consisting of trillions of microorganisms, significantly influences human feelings, decisions, memory, immunity, and cravings [1][2][3][4] - The gut and brain are connected via a highly active communication pathway, impacting decision-making processes [4][5] Research & Experimentation - A research study is being conducted with patients undergoing digestive tract surgery, using kombucha as a probiotic and a placebo to study the impact on the microbiome [8][9] - Placebo effects are crucial in microbiome research to differentiate the impact of probiotics from the psychological effects of treatment [10][11][12] - Studies show that altering the microbiome with probiotics can influence risk-taking behavior, patience, and reactions to unfairness [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][31] Microbiome & Lifestyle - Urban living can reduce the diversity of the gut microbiome by approximately fourfold compared to living closer to nature [33] - A diet beneficial for the microbiome includes natural, unprocessed foods, vegetables (ideally not perfectly cleaned), and fermented foods like kimchi and kombucha [35] - Alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, can harm the gut microbiome [35][36]

[Music] [Applause] Right now, this room is on fire. Can you feel it. Can you see and smell the burning.No, that's because this is a fire you can't see and most of us won't feel it perhaps until it's too late. So what kind of fire is this. This fire is inside you.Information of your body and your brain. We are living in a crisis of inflammation. Half the deaths on this planet are caused by inflammatory conditions.Heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and the condition I live with, inflammatory bowel disease. Ev ...

Group 1 - Bon Natural Life Limited (BON) has entered a non-exclusive sales distribution agreement with Beijing Huahai Keyuan Technology Co., Ltd. for a term of 24 months, with a total contract value of up to US$16 million [1] - The agreement allows Huahai Keyuan to market, sell, and distribute BON's natural prebiotic series products in the Chinese market [1] - BON's latest natural prebiotic product series features a "Prebiotic + Postbiotic" complex centered on super prebiotic stachyose, aimed at enhancing gut health by promoting beneficial probiotic populations [2][3] Group 2 - The partnership with Huahai Keyuan is expected to accelerate BON's entry into China's growing gut health market and unlock substantial growth opportunities for both companies [4] - Yongwei Hu, Chairman and CEO of BON, emphasized the strategic collaboration's potential to drive top-line growth and long-term shareholder value [4] - Huahai Keyuan is recognized for its strong market presence and expertise in introducing innovative health products to the Chinese market [4]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - LifeWay Foods reported net sales of $186.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $26.7 million or 16.7% compared to the prior year, marking a record high annual top line result [6] - The company achieved a gross profit margin of 26% for the year, maintaining solid margins despite inflationary pressures on milk prices [7][8] - Net income for the year was $9 million, reflecting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.61 per basic and $0.60 per diluted share [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales of the flagship drinkable LifeWay kefir increased by more than 20% in 2024 compared to the prior year, following a nearly 16% growth in 2023 [16] - LifeWay's Farmer's Cheese saw strong growth in the second half of the year, particularly in Q4, supported by strategic investments and increased distribution [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a growing customer interest in protein-rich foods with probiotics, which has been a significant driver of growth [7] - LifeWay's products are gaining traction in new markets, including initial shipments to Dubai and UAE, although this is not yet a major revenue contributor [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - LifeWay Foods is focused on innovation, with plans to expand its product offerings in response to evolving consumer interests, including lactose-free and probiotic products [15][17] - The company aims to maintain its market leadership in the kefir category while exploring new distribution opportunities to enhance its footprint [25] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth momentum through 2025, despite macroeconomic pressures such as high prices and interest rates [12][26] - The company believes that health and wellness trends will continue to support its premium product portfolio for years to come [15] Other Important Information - LifeWay Foods has been actively participating in events to raise awareness about gut health and its products, including appearances at South by Southwest and Expo West [21][22] - The company is leveraging social media and influencer partnerships to enhance brand exposure and drive consumer engagement [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for growth in the kefir market? - Management indicated that the addressable market for kefir is widening, and they are committed to maintaining their dominant position through innovation and strategic investments [16] Question: How is the company addressing inflationary pressures? - The company has maintained solid profit margins and is focused on driving higher shipment volumes to create operating leverage, which may lead to gross margin expansion [8][9]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales reached $186.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, marking a record high and an increase of $26.7 million or 16.7% compared to the prior year [6] - Gross profit margin was reported at 26% for the year, maintained despite inflationary pressures on raw materials [7] - Net income for the year was $9 million, reflecting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.61 per basic and $0.60 per diluted share [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales of the flagship drinkable LifeWay kefir increased by more than 20% in 2024 compared to the prior year, following a nearly 16% growth in 2023 [17] - LifeWay's Farmer's Cheese saw significant growth in the second half of the year, particularly strong in Q4, following strategic investments [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted a growing customer interest in protein-rich foods with probiotics, which has been a driving factor for sales growth [7] - Initial trends in the UAE market are promising, although it is not yet a major revenue contributor [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on innovation, with plans to expand its product offerings in response to evolving consumer interests, including lactose-free and probiotic products [15][18] - LifeWay aims to maintain its market-leading position in the kefir category through strategic investments and marketing initiatives [16][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining growth momentum through 2025, despite macroeconomic pressures such as high prices and interest rates [11][12] - The company believes that health and wellness trends will continue to support its premium product portfolio [15] Other Important Information - Capital spending increased to $6.7 million in 2024, aimed at modernizing manufacturing facilities to support growth [10] - The company has been actively participating in events to raise awareness about gut health and its products, including appearances at South by Southwest and Expo West [22][23] Q&A Session Summary - No specific questions and answers were provided in the content, thus this section is not applicable.

Core Insights - The global sourdough market is projected to grow from USD 279.6 million in 2025 to USD 438.4 million by 2035, with a CAGR of 4.6% driven by consumer preference for naturally fermented and clean-label products [2][14] - Increasing health awareness and demand for artisanal baked goods are key factors contributing to market expansion [1][3] Market Trends - The trend of home baking, which surged during the pandemic, continues to support the growth of the sourdough market [3] - The demand for low glycemic index (GI) foods is rising, leading to the development of low GI sourdough products [5] - The popularity of gluten-free products is increasing, creating a thriving market for gluten-free sourdough options [6] Technological Advancements - Advancements in fermentation technology and automation are enhancing commercial sourdough production, allowing for scalability while maintaining artisanal quality [8] - The adoption of uniform microbial cultures and controlled fermentation processes is addressing challenges related to quality consistency [8] Health Trends - Sourdough is gaining traction among health-conscious consumers due to its lower glycemic index, enhanced digestibility, and probiotic benefits [10][13] - The focus on gut health is driving consumer interest in sourdough as a preferred bread alternative [10][13] Regional Insights - Western Europe is experiencing rapid growth in the sourdough market, driven by urbanization and demand for fast food products [4] - The USA is seeing a shift towards clean-label and health-driven sourdough products, with innovations in functional and high-protein offerings [14] - Emerging markets like Japan and Indonesia are witnessing significant growth in sourdough popularity, attributed to home baking trends [15][18] Competitive Landscape - The sourdough market is highly competitive, with major players focusing on product innovation and functional ingredient enhancements [22] - Companies like Lesaffre, Puratos, and Alpha Baking Co. are investing in R&D to develop probiotic-enhanced sourdough and hybrid formulations [22]