Lifeway Foods (LWAY) major holder Smolyansky sells 38,452 shares, keeps big stake

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Lifeway Foods, Inc. major shareholder Edward Smolyansky sold a total of 38,452 shares of common stock in open-market transactions on June 24, 2026. The reported weighted average prices were about $29.82 and $30.52, with individual trades executed between $29.26 and $31.24.

After these sales, he continues to hold more than 1,000,000 shares directly, and additional shares are held indirectly. Indirect holdings include shares in a trust where he is trustee, shares held by his son that he disclaims beneficial ownership of, and shares held by Smolyansky Holding LLC, which he also disclaims except for any pecuniary interest.

Insights

Insider trading and governance analyst

Large shareholder executed routine open-market sales while retaining a sizable position.

Edward Smolyansky, a more-than-10% owner of Lifeway Foods, Inc., reported open-market sales totaling 38,452 shares of common stock on June 24, 2026. Trade prices were reported as weighted averages around $29.82 and $30.52, across ranges from $29.26 to $31.24.

The filing shows he continues to directly hold over 1,000,000 shares, plus significant indirect holdings via a trust where he is trustee and an LLC where he has a pecuniary interest. He disclaims beneficial ownership of shares held by his son. With no derivative exercises and a substantial remaining stake, these transactions appear as partial liquidity rather than an exit. Subsequent Form 4 filings may clarify any ongoing selling pattern.

Insider Trade Summary

Net Seller: 38,452 shares ($1,147,894)

Net Sell 5 txns

Insider SMOLYANSKY EDWARD

Role null

Sold 38,452 shs ($1.15M)

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Sale	Common Stock, no par value	36,659	$29.82	$1.09M
Sale	Common Stock, no par value	1,793	$30.52	$55K
holding	Common Stock, no par value	--	--	--
holding	Common Stock, no par value	--	--	--
holding	Common Stock, no par value	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Common Stock, no par value — 1,015,983 shares (Direct, null); Common Stock, no par value — 1,183,333 shares (Indirect, See footnote)

Footnotes (1)

1. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging between $29.26 and $30.25, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote (1) and in footnote (2). The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging between $30.25 and $31.24, inclusive. Beneficially held by the Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16, of which the reporting person is the trustee. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his son. Held by Smolyansky Holding LLC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

Key Figures

Shares sold: 38,452 shares Weighted average price 1: $29.82 per share Weighted average price 2: $30.52 per share +5 more

8 metrics

Shares sold 38,452 shares Total common shares sold on June 24, 2026 in open-market trades

Weighted average price 1 $29.82 per share Weighted average for one block of open-market sales

Weighted average price 2 $30.52 per share Weighted average for a second block of open-market sales

Price range block 1 $29.26–$30.25 Range of individual trade prices for first sale block

Price range block 2 $30.25–$31.24 Range of individual trade prices for second sale block

Trust holdings 500,000 shares Held by the Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16

Son’s holdings 100,000 shares Held by son; beneficial ownership disclaimed

LLC holdings 1,183,333 shares Held by Smolyansky Holding LLC; ownership disclaimed except pecuniary interest

Key Terms

weighted average price, beneficially held, disclaims beneficial ownership, pecuniary interest, +1 more

5 terms

weighted average price financial

"The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price."

Weighted average price is the average price of a security where each trade or component is counted according to its size, so bigger trades pull the average more than smaller ones. Think of it like calculating the average cost of a grocery haul where items you bought more of have greater influence on the final per-item cost. Investors use it to understand the true average price paid or received, judge execution quality, and compare trading performance against market movement.

beneficially held financial

"Beneficially held by the Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16, of which the reporting person is the trustee."

disclaims beneficial ownership financial

"The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his son."

pecuniary interest financial

"The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein."

open market or private transaction financial

"Sale in open market or private transaction"

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Form 4 Insider Transactions: What Each Field Means →

Available on EDGAR 06/26/2026 - 04:06 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 06/26/2026 - 04:05 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

SMOLYANSKY EDWARD

(Last) (First) (Middle)

1219 N. WELLS ST.

(Street)

CHICAGO ILLINOIS 60610

(City) (State) (Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Lifeway Foods, Inc. [ LWAY ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director	X	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/24/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock, no par value	06/24/2026		S		36,659	D	$29.82(1)	1,015,983	D
Common Stock, no par value	06/24/2026		S		1,793	D	$30.52(2)	1,014,190	D
Common Stock, no par value								1,183,333	I	See footnote(3)
Common Stock, no par value								100,000	I	By son(4)
Common Stock, no par value								500,000	I	See footnote(5)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging between $29.26 and $30.25, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the issuer, any security holder of the issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote (1) and in footnote (2).

2. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging between $30.25 and $31.24, inclusive.

3. Beneficially held by the Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16, of which the reporting person is the trustee.

4. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his son.

5. Held by Smolyansky Holding LLC. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

	/s/ Edward Smolyansky	06/26/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)

FAQ

What did Edward Smolyansky report in his latest Form 4 for LWAY?

He reported selling 38,452 shares of Lifeway Foods common stock in open-market transactions on June 24, 2026. The trades were executed at weighted average prices around $29.82 and $30.52 within disclosed price ranges.

How many Lifeway Foods (LWAY) shares did Edward Smolyansky sell and at what prices?

He sold a total of 38,452 shares of Lifeway Foods common stock. The reported weighted average prices were approximately $29.82 and $30.52 per share, with individual trades occurring between $29.26 and $31.24, according to the Form 4 footnotes.

Does Edward Smolyansky still hold Lifeway Foods (LWAY) shares after these sales?

Yes, after the June 24, 2026 transactions he continues to hold more than 1,000,000 shares directly. Additional indirect holdings are reported through a trust, an LLC, and shares held by his son, some of which he disclaims beneficial ownership of.

What indirect Lifeway Foods (LWAY) holdings are reported for Edward Smolyansky?

The Form 4 shows 500,000 shares held by the Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16, 100,000 shares held by his son, and 1,183,333 shares held by Smolyansky Holding LLC. He disclaims beneficial ownership of his son’s shares and of the LLC holdings except for any pecuniary interest.

Were Edward Smolyansky’s LWAY trades single transactions or multiple trades?

They were multiple trades aggregated into weighted average prices. Footnotes state that the 38,452 shares were sold in numerous transactions, with prices ranging from $29.26 to $30.25 and from $30.25 to $31.24, and detailed breakdowns are available upon request.

Did the Form 4 for LWAY involve any option exercises or derivatives?

No, the filing reflects only non-derivative common stock transactions. The derivative summary shows zero derivative exercises or other derivative transactions, indicating there were no reported option exercises or conversions in this particular Form 4.