Company prepares for a weekend of Big Game activity, culminating in an in-person event supporting student nutrition initiatives nationwide MORTON GROVE, Ill., Feb. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifeway Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: LWAY) ("Lifeway" or "the Company"), the leading U.S. supplier of kefir and fermented probiotic foods, today announced it plans to premiere a new video on its social media channels starring Chicago superstars Colston Loveland and D'Andre Swift to kick off the weekend of the Big Game. "Game day i ...

Core Insights - Lifeway Foods, Inc. is partnering with Barry's for the Find Your Strength challenge, promoting the new Power Play shake at Barry's Fuel Bar locations nationwide [1][4] Company Overview - Lifeway Foods is recognized as a leading supplier of kefir and fermented probiotic products in the U.S. and has received multiple accolades, including being named one of America's Growth Leaders by TIME and Dairy Foods' Processor of the Year 2025 [6] - The company offers a variety of products, including drinkable kefir, cheeses, and a ProBugs® line for kids, with distribution across the U.S., Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, UAE, and France [6] Product Details - The Lifeway Power Play shake contains Organic Plain Whole Milk Kefir, blue spirulina, chia seeds, almond milk, vanilla whey protein, granola, and blueberries, designed to provide a protein- and probiotic-rich boost for workouts and recovery [2][4] - The shake will be available at Barry's Fuel Bar locations throughout the duration of the challenge, offering a convenient option for participants [4] Event Information - The Find Your Strength challenge runs from January 26 to February 25, 2026, allowing participants to choose between two tracks: 12 classes in 30 days or 20 classes in 30 days [3] - Participants completing the challenge will receive recognition and rewards from Barry's [3] Barry's Overview - Barry's is a pioneer in the boutique fitness movement, offering high-energy cardio and strength interval training since 1998, with 97 studios in 18 countries and a digital offering [7] - The brand has expanded its class offerings to include LIFT and RIDE, creating a community and lifestyle brand around fitness [7]

Core Thesis - Lifeway Foods (LWAY) is considered undervalued relative to its growth potential in the kefir manufacturing sector [1] Company Insights - The CEO of Lifeway Foods, Julie Smolyanski, has family members involved in the business, which may influence investor interest [1] Investment Perspective - The analysis focuses on long-term investment opportunities, particularly in the food manufacturing industry, emphasizing the importance of growth opportunities and valuation metrics [1]

Group 1 - The core thesis is that Lifeway Foods (LWAY), a kefir manufacturing company, is undervalued relative to its growth potential [1] - The interest from other investors in Lifeway Foods is not solely based on its valuation but also on the involvement of its CEO, Julie Smolyanski, and her family members [1]

Core Insights - Lifeway Foods, Inc. is set to participate in the ICR Conference on January 13, 2026, where President and CEO Julie Smolyansky will discuss the company's significant growth and its leading position in the U.S. kefir market [1] - The company projects net sales for the year ending December 31, 2025, to be between $211.0 million and $212.5 million, indicating a strong performance and expectations for record-breaking revenue [1] Company Overview - Lifeway Foods, Inc. is recognized as a leading supplier of probiotic fermented beverages, specifically kefir, and has received accolades such as being named one of America's Growth Leaders by TIME and Dairy Foods' Processor of the Year 2025 [3] - The company offers a variety of products, including drinkable kefir, cheeses, and a ProBugs® line for children, with distribution across the United States and several international markets including Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, the UAE, and France [3]

Core Viewpoint - Lifeway Foods, Inc. has received a recommendation from Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) for shareholders to vote in favor of all the company's director nominees and to withhold votes from the dissident nominees at the upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled for December 29, 2025 [1]. Group 1: ISS Recommendations - ISS recommends shareholders vote "FOR" the following Board Nominees: Kirk Chartier, Juan Carlos ("JC") Dalto, Rachel Drori, Andee Harris, Susie Hultquist, Dorri McWhorter, Jason Scher, and Julie Smolyansky [1]. - ISS recommends shareholders "WITHHOLD" votes from the Dissident Nominees: George Sent and Edward Smolyansky [1]. Group 2: Company Overview - Lifeway Foods, Inc. is recognized as a leading supplier of kefir and fermented dairy products in the U.S. and has been acknowledged as one of America's Growth Leaders by TIME, Dairy Foods' Processor of the Year 2025, and one of Forbes' Best Small Companies [3]. - The company produces a variety of products including drinkable kefir, cheeses, and a ProBugs® line for kids, with its products sold across multiple countries including the U.S., Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and France [3]. Group 3: Shareholder Voting Information - The company encourages shareholders to vote their shares in advance of the meeting by returning the WHITE proxy card or voting via the Internet or QR code as instructed on the WHITE proxy card [2].

Edward Smolyansky – a Lifeway Foods shareholder and brother of the US company's CEO – has accused the kefir maker of “blatant deception” after the business pushed back at his bid to get a board seat. Last month, Edward Smolyansky, who has been critical of Lifeway's performance under his sister Julie, filed a proxy statement with the SEC, seeking board representation. The move, the filing read, was designed to end “long-running governance failures, value destruction and entrenched leadership practices” at ...

Core Insights - Lifeway Foods has been recognized in the **Inc. Best in Business** list under the **Best Challenger Brands** category, highlighting its significant impact and achievements in the industry [1][1][1] Company Achievements - The recognition celebrates companies that have made profound contributions through exceptional execution, including customer expansion, key product launches, and increased market share [1][1] - Lifeway Foods has been acknowledged for its commitment to innovation and impact, with a mission to support everyday wellness by making probiotic foods accessible [1][1][1] Industry Recognition - The **Inc. Best in Business Awards** honor companies across various industries, including technology, health care, finance, and retail, that have achieved outstanding influence on their communities and industries [1][1] - The awards are open to all types of companies, including public, private, nonprofit, and international entities, emphasizing the broad scope of recognition [1][1]

Core Viewpoint - Lifeway Foods, Inc. expresses strong opposition to the nomination of Edward Smolyansky and George Sent for the Board of Directors, citing serious ethical concerns and potential risks to shareholder value due to the nominees' backgrounds and personal financial issues [1][2][4][8]. Group 1: Dissident Nominees' Background - The track record of the Dissident Nominees raises significant ethical concerns, indicating they may be unfit to serve on the Board [2][8]. - George Sent's previous role as Lifeway's Lead Independent Director and his alignment with the Dissident is viewed as a troubling reversal of principle [3][8]. - The Dissident, Edward Smolyansky, has a history of misconduct, including being terminated for cause and defaulting on a $10.4 million mortgage [7][5]. Group 2: Financial Distress and Shareholder Interests - Edward and Ludmila Smolyansky's personal financial distress may be driving their push for a quick sale of Lifeway, potentially compromising the interests of other shareholders [4][5]. - The Smolyanskys have sold over 2.5 million shares of Lifeway stock in the last five years, with no purchases made, raising concerns about their commitment to the company [6][8]. Group 3: Company Performance and Governance - Lifeway has demonstrated strong financial performance, with a 788% total shareholder return over the past five years and a 29% increase in net sales in Q3 2025 [12][10]. - The Board is committed to refreshing its membership thoughtfully, aiming to enhance independence and effectiveness [11][14]. - Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) has advised shareholders to reject the proposals from the Dissident group, indicating a lack of compelling case for change [9][12].

Core Viewpoint - Lifeway Foods is facing a proxy fight initiated by shareholder Edward Smolyansky, who is seeking to reshape the company's board to address governance failures and enhance shareholder value [1][2]. Group 1: Board Restructuring Efforts - Edward Smolyansky has filed a proxy statement with the SEC to nominate himself and George Sent as director candidates ahead of the annual general meeting in December [1]. - The filing aims for a comprehensive board change to end governance failures and entrenched leadership practices that have negatively impacted shareholders [2]. - Smolyansky is advocating for the establishment of a special committee composed solely of independent directors to evaluate Lifeway's executive leadership and strategic plans [3]. Group 2: Governance Concerns - The company has been criticized for failing to disclose the addition of two new independent directors and not setting a date for the 2025 annual meeting [3]. - Smolyansky emphasized the need for an independent, transparent, and accountable board, citing governance failures and mishandling of a takeover proposal from Danone as detrimental to shareholder value [4]. - The extension of Lifeway's shareholder rights plan has been described by Smolyansky as a tactic to entrench management and block potential investors from gaining a significant stake [5][6].