Lifeway Foods Inc. filings document the regulatory record for an Illinois operating company whose common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol LWAY. Its Form 8-K reports cover operating results, sales estimates, Regulation FD disclosures, material agreements, director appointments and resignations, and compensatory arrangements under the company's 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
Proxy materials describe annual shareholder meeting matters, board and committee governance, executive compensation and equity-plan administration. The filing record also identifies the company's registered securities, including common stock and preferred stock purchase rights, and includes formal disclosures related to financial reporting, governance changes and capital-structure matters.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY) CEO, President and Secretary Julie Smolyansky reported purchasing 2,000 shares of common stock on August 19, 2026 at $25.26 per share in an open-market or private transaction, bringing her directly held common stock position to 2,214,095 shares. She also reports direct and indirect holdings of restricted stock units (RSUs) tied to common stock, with various tranches scheduled to vest in 2027 and 2028 contingent on continued service by her or her spouse, plus additional common shares held for the benefit of minor children, by her spouse, and through Smolyansky Holding LLC.
Divisadero Street Partners, L.P., a private investment fund managed by Divisadero Street Capital Management, LP, reported open-market purchases of Lifeway Foods, Inc. common stock. On August 13, 14, and 17, 2026, the fund bought an aggregate of 246,568 shares at per-share prices around the mid‑$24 range, including weighted-average purchase ranges of $24.5375–$25.4022 and $24.6705–$24.8293. The securities are held by the fund and may be deemed indirectly beneficially owned by related Divisadero entities and William Zolezzi, with all positions reported as indirect ownership. The filing does not indicate that these transactions were made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. major shareholder Edward Smolyansky reported indirect open‑market sales of 110,000 shares of common stock on August 12 and 14, 2026. The shares, held by the Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16, were sold at weighted average prices of $28.74 (35,000 shares), $24.89 (29,931 shares), $25.82 (45,038 shares), and $26.50 (31 shares), with detailed price ranges noted in the footnotes. After these transactions, reported holdings include 100,000 shares held directly and 902,642 shares held by his son, as to which beneficial ownership is disclaimed, plus additional shares held by an LLC where beneficial ownership is also disclaimed. The Rule 10b5‑1 trading plan box was not checked.
Edward Smolyansky filed a notice to sell up to 75,000 shares of LWAY common stock through Citigroup Global Markets Inc., with sales expected on or after 08/14/2026 on NASDAQ. The filing also lists multiple prior sales of LWAY common stock over the past three months, including blocks of 111,548 shares for $3,263,599.87 on 06/26/2026 and 66,916 shares for $2,142,764.08 on 07/15/2026. A prior transfer of 75,000 shares was reported as a gift by Ludmila Smolyansky on 05/19/2023.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. reported strong top-line growth but weaker profitability for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2026. Net sales rose to $66.9M for the quarter, up 24.1% year over year, and to $129.9M for the first half, a 29.9% increase, primarily from higher volumes of branded drinkable kefir.
Profitability contracted as gross margin fell to 19.5% from 28.6% in the quarter and to 23.4% from 26.5% year to date, driven mainly by higher conventional milk prices and, to a lesser extent, higher resin-based packaging and transportation costs. Quarterly net income declined to $0.1M (basic EPS $0.01) from $4.2M, while six‑month net income decreased to $4.8M from $7.8M.
The company is investing heavily in capacity, with $19.5M of capital expenditures in the first half and an estimated $50.5M project to expand and modernize its Waukesha, Wisconsin plant, expected to double manufacturing capacity. To support this, Lifeway drew $22.0M on its $25.0M revolving credit facility and put in place a $22.0M Interim Funding Agreement for equipment financing, while ending the period with $7.1M in cash and remaining covenant compliant.
Lifeway Foods reported record second-quarter 2026 net sales of $66.9 million, up 24.1% year-over-year and surpassing its prior quarterly record by $3.9 million. This marked the company’s 27th consecutive quarter of year-over-year net sales growth. First-half 2026 net sales were $129.9 million, up 29.9% from the prior-year period.
Strong top-line growth was offset by higher input costs. Gross profit margin fell to 19.5% from 28.6% in the quarter, primarily due to elevated milk prices and higher resin and transportation costs. Quarterly net income declined to $0.1 million ($0.01 per share) from $4.3 million ($0.28 per share). For the first half, net income was $4.8 million versus $7.8 million a year earlier.
The company continued to invest heavily in capacity and growth. Property, plant and equipment, net, increased to $65.6 million from $48.3 million at year-end 2025, supported by $19.5 million in capital spending and new borrowings under a $23.0 million line of credit, with $21.9 million outstanding. Lifeway also repurchased $4.9 million of treasury stock. Management highlighted ongoing distribution gains, brand activations and a planned Waukesha facility expansion, and stated an expectation that gross margin and profitability will fully recover in 2027 as milk costs ease and operational efficiencies materialize.
Edward Smolyansky filed a notice to sell 35,000 shares of Lifeway Foods (LWAY) common stock through Citigroup Global Markets Inc. The proposed aggregate sale price is $1,005,781.00, with the transaction expected on August 12, 2026 on NASDAQ. The filing also lists multiple prior sales of LWAY common stock over the past three months, including several large blocks exceeding 50,000 shares each.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. reporting person Ludmila Smolyansky, a member of a 10% owner group, reported indirect sales totaling 100000 shares of common stock on July 22, 2026, through the Ludmila Smolyansky Trust 2/1/05, of which she is trustee. The trust sold 60000 shares at $30.5500 and 40000 shares at a weighted average price of $29.4600, from multiple trades between $29.28 and $30.27, and the transactions were not made under a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan.
Lifeway Foods Inc. shareholder Ludmila Smolyansky filed a notice to sell up to 100,000 shares of common stock through RBC Capital Markets on NASDAQ, with an indicated aggregate value of $3,075,000. The shares were acquired by inheritance from Michael Smolyansky on January 1, 2002. Over the prior three months, the same shareholder reported sales of 85,616 shares for $2,578,933, 20,000 shares for $478,914, and 20,000 shares for $492,722.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. major shareholder Edward Smolyansky reported open-market sales totaling 66,916 shares of common stock on July 15, 2026, at weighted-average prices of $31.51 and $32.32 per share, executed in multiple transactions within stated price ranges. After these sales, he reports 902,642 shares held directly, plus additional indirect holdings through a trust, an LLC and shares held by his son, with footnotes stating that he disclaims beneficial ownership of certain indirect holdings.