Lifeway Foods director acquires 782 stock rights

Each phantom-stock unit is payable in one common share when Chartier no longer serves as a director.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY) director Kirk Chartier acquired 782 shares of phantom stock on September 30, 2026, by deferring cash compensation for board service in the quarter ended that date under the company’s Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan. His reported phantom-stock position following the acquisition was 2,195 shares. Each phantom-stock share represents a right to one common share and becomes payable when he no longer serves as a director.

Chartier also had two restricted stock unit positions: 2,512 RSUs scheduled to vest December 30, 2026, and 2,038 RSUs scheduled to vest July 1, 2027. Each vesting is contingent on his continued service as a director on the applicable date.

Insider Trade Summary

Grant/Award: 782 shares

Grant/Award 3 txns

Insider Chartier Kirk

Role Director

Type	Security	Shares	Price	Value
Grant/Award	Phantom Stock F3, F4	782	--	--
holding	Restricted Stock Units F1	--	--	--
holding	Restricted Stock Units F1, F2	--	--	--

Holdings After Transaction: Phantom Stock — 2,195 contracts (Direct); Restricted Stock Units — 4,550 contracts (Direct)

Footnotes (4)

1. F1. Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The RSUs vest on December 30, 2026 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.
2. F2. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The RSUs vest on July 1, 2027, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.
3. F3. Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The phantom stock becomes payable on the date that the Reporting Person no longer serves as a director of the Company.
4. F4. The acquired shares of phantom stock were acquired upon deferral of the Reporting Person's cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors in the quarter ended September 30, 2026 pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.

Key Figures

Phantom stock acquired: 782 shares Phantom stock following acquisition: 2,195 shares Restricted stock units: 2,512 units +1 more

4 metrics

Phantom stock acquired 782 shares September 30, 2026; acquired through deferred board-service cash compensation

Phantom stock following acquisition 2,195 shares Reported resulting position

Restricted stock units 2,512 units Scheduled to vest December 30, 2026, contingent on continued director service

Restricted stock units 2,038 units Scheduled to vest July 1, 2027, contingent on continued director service

Key Terms

phantom stock, restricted stock unit, contingent right, Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan

4 terms

phantom stock financial

"Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock."

A phantom stock is a form of compensation that gives employees or executives the benefits of stock ownership, such as the increase in stock value, without actually giving them real shares. It acts like a promise to pay the employee the equivalent value of company stock later, often as a bonus or incentive. This allows companies to motivate and reward staff without diluting ownership or transferring actual shares.

restricted stock unit financial

"Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock."

A restricted stock unit is a promise from a company to give an employee shares of stock after certain conditions are met, like staying with the company for a set amount of time. It’s like earning a bonus that turns into company stock once you’ve proven your commitment, making it a way to motivate and reward employees.

contingent right financial

"Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock."

Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan financial

"pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan."

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

How many phantom-stock shares did LWAY director Kirk Chartier acquire?

Kirk Chartier acquired 782 shares of phantom stock on September 30, 2026, through deferral of cash compensation for board service in the quarter ended that date. His reported phantom-stock position following the acquisition was 2,195 shares.

When do Kirk Chartier’s LWAY RSUs vest?

The 2,512 RSUs are scheduled to vest on December 30, 2026, and the 2,038 RSUs are scheduled to vest on July 1, 2027. Each vesting is contingent on Chartier continuing to serve as a director on the applicable vesting date.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Available on EDGAR 10/01/2026 - 04:54 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 10/01/2026 - 04:53 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^*

Chartier Kirk

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.

6431 OAKTON STREET

(Street)

MORTON GROVE ILLINOIS 60053

(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)

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

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
09/30/2026

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

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
Restricted Stock Units	(1)							(1)	(1)	Common Stock	2,512		2,512	D
Restricted Stock Units	(1)							(2)	(2)	Common Stock	2,038		2,038	D
Phantom Stock	(3)(4)	09/30/2026		A		782		(3)(4)	(3)(4)	Common Stock	782	(3)(4)	2,195	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The RSUs vest on December 30, 2026 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.

2. Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The RSUs vest on July 1, 2027, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.

3. Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The phantom stock becomes payable on the date that the Reporting Person no longer serves as a director of the Company.

4. The acquired shares of phantom stock were acquired upon deferral of the Reporting Person's cash compensation for service on the Board of Directors in the quarter ended September 30, 2026 pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.

	/s/ Eric Hanson, as attorney-in-fact	10/01/2026
	** 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)