Lifeway Food Stock Price, News & Analysis

Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY) announced on December 3, 2025 that it was named to Inc. magazine's 2025 Best in Business list in the Best Challenger Brands category.

The award recognizes companies that achieved notable business wins such as customer expansion, key product launches, market-share gains, and industry impact. CEO Julie Smolyansky described the recognition as validation of Lifeway's focus on innovation and expanding access to probiotic foods. The full list is available at inc.com/best-in-business.

Lifeway Foods (Nasdaq: LWAY) expanded distribution so its Lifeway Farmer Cheese is now carried in 2,000 Walmart (WMT) stores nationwide as of Nov. 21, 2025.

The product is described as a small-batch, probiotic soft cheese with 15 grams of protein per serving, live and active cultures, no added sugar, and placement in the dairy aisle. The company cites rising consumer demand and double-digit year‑over‑year growth in refrigerated cultured dairy categories as drivers for the rollout.

Lifeway Foods (Nasdaq: LWAY) reported record Q3 2025 net sales of $57.1 million, a 24.0% year‑over‑year increase and ~29% on a comparable basis. The quarter delivered 300 basis points of gross margin expansion to 28.7% and net income of $3.5 million ($0.23 per share), up from $3.0 million the prior year. Lifeway completed the first stage of its Waukesha plant expansion in September, which management says increased capacity and operational efficiency. The company launched new products including Muscle Mates™ (20g protein, 5g creatine, 12 probiotic cultures) and expanded kefir partnerships. Lifeway reiterated a long‑term target of $45–$50 million in Adjusted EBITDA for FY 2027 and expects its strongest annual sales in FY 2025.

Lifeway Foods (Nasdaq: LWAY) announced a limited-edition product, the Lifeway Probiotic Sunrise Smoothie, in partnership with Drugstore, chef Jeremy Fall's clean-kitchen brand, on November 11, 2025. The smoothie mixes lactose-free, protein-packed Lifeway kefir with pineapple, coconut, and banana, and includes probiotics, adaptogens, and antioxidants. It is available exclusively at Drugstore's first permanent location at Time Out Market New York and for delivery via Uber Eats through the month of November. The collaboration emphasizes wellness-focused flavors and Lifeway's probiotic positioning.

Lifeway Foods (Nasdaq: LWAY) will hold a ribbon cutting on November 10, 2025 to launch Phase Two of a $45 million, four-phase Waukesha expansion.

Phase Two installs a state-of-the-art cooling system to support expanded fermentation and bottling. The multi-phase project follows Phase One, which doubled fermentation capacity, and aims to double total output by 2026 to meet rising global kefir demand while leveraging Wisconsin milk supplies.

Edward Smolyansky, a long‑term shareholder, criticized Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY) after the board on Oct 29, 2025 amended its Shareholder Rights Agreement, extending the plan's expiration to Oct 29, 2026 without shareholder approval. Smolyansky and Ludmila Smolyansky together control about 26% of outstanding shares and say the extension occurred amid a board refreshment and leadership deadline.

The 8‑K cited "concentrated ownership" and possible share sales as justification; Smolyansky called for rescinding the extension, disclosure of director votes, a shareholder vote before any renewal, and genuine board refreshment. The release notes Danone holds about 23% of shares and that Lifeway will report Q3 results on Nov 12, 2025.