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 ...

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.