Welcome to our dedicated page for Lifeway Food SEC filings (Ticker: LWAY), a comprehensive resource for investors and traders seeking official regulatory documents including 10-K annual reports, 10-Q quarterly earnings, 8-K material events, and insider trading forms.
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. is registering the resale of 3,454,756 shares of Common Stock by the selling stockholder.
The shares are being offered by Danone USA Public Benefit Corporation and the company will receive no proceeds from these resales. The prospectus reflects 15,281,888 shares outstanding as of April 30, 2026. Lifeway has indicated an interest in repurchasing up to $5 million of shares from the underwriter, but that repurchase is contingent and may not occur.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. is registering the resale of 3,454,756 shares of Common Stock by the selling stockholder.
The shares are being offered by Danone USA Public Benefit Corporation and the company will receive no proceeds from these resales. The prospectus reflects 15,281,888 shares outstanding as of April 30, 2026. Lifeway has indicated an interest in repurchasing up to $5 million of shares from the underwriter, but that repurchase is contingent and may not occur.
Lifeway Foods reported strong first‑quarter 2026 growth, with net sales of $63.0 million, up 36.7% from a year earlier, driven mainly by higher volumes of branded drinkable kefir. Gross margin improved to 27.5% from 24.0% as milk pricing and manufacturing efficiencies supported profitability.
Income from operations rose to $6.3 million, or 10.0% of sales, compared with $1.6 million and a 3.5% margin in 2025. Net income increased to $4.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.30 versus $0.23. Operating cash flow turned positive at $4.4 million.
The company invested $11.0 million in property and equipment, largely to expand and modernize its Waukesha, Wisconsin facility, a project expected to double that plant’s capacity. To help fund this, Lifeway drew $7.0 million on its $25.0 million revolving credit facility and remained in compliance with all covenants, ending the quarter with $5.6 million in cash and $18.0 million of revolver availability.
Lifeway Foods reported strong first‑quarter 2026 growth, with net sales of $63.0 million, up 36.7% from a year earlier, driven mainly by higher volumes of branded drinkable kefir. Gross margin improved to 27.5% from 24.0% as milk pricing and manufacturing efficiencies supported profitability.
Income from operations rose to $6.3 million, or 10.0% of sales, compared with $1.6 million and a 3.5% margin in 2025. Net income increased to $4.7 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.30 versus $0.23. Operating cash flow turned positive at $4.4 million.
The company invested $11.0 million in property and equipment, largely to expand and modernize its Waukesha, Wisconsin facility, a project expected to double that plant’s capacity. To help fund this, Lifeway drew $7.0 million on its $25.0 million revolving credit facility and remained in compliance with all covenants, ending the quarter with $5.6 million in cash and $18.0 million of revolver availability.
Lifeway Foods reported record results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, with net sales of $63.0 million, up 36.7% year-over-year, driven mainly by its flagship Lifeway Kefir. Gross profit margin improved to 27.5% from 23.9%, showing better profitability on each dollar of sales.
Net income rose to $4.7 million from $3.5 million, and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.30 from $0.23. Operating cash flow improved to $4.4 million, while the company invested $11.0 million in property and equipment and drew on a $8.0 million line of credit. Management reiterated a long‑term Adjusted EBITDA target of $45–$50 million for FY 2027 and expects FY 2026 to deliver the strongest annual sales in its history.
Lifeway Foods reported record results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, with net sales of $63.0 million, up 36.7% year-over-year, driven mainly by its flagship Lifeway Kefir. Gross profit margin improved to 27.5% from 23.9%, showing better profitability on each dollar of sales.
Net income rose to $4.7 million from $3.5 million, and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.30 from $0.23. Operating cash flow improved to $4.4 million, while the company invested $11.0 million in property and equipment and drew on a $8.0 million line of credit. Management reiterated a long‑term Adjusted EBITDA target of $45–$50 million for FY 2027 and expects FY 2026 to deliver the strongest annual sales in its history.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. is holding its 2026 virtual annual shareholders meeting on June 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Central Time. Shareholders of record as of April 20, 2026, when 15,281,888 common shares were outstanding, may vote one share per share held.
Owners are asked to elect seven directors, ratify Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditor for 2026, and approve, on an advisory basis, executive compensation. The board recommends voting “FOR” all three proposals. The slate reflects a cooperation agreement with Danone and a refreshed, largely independent board.
The proxy also explains say‑on‑pay results declining from 58.5% support in 2024 to 53.3% in 2025, subsequent shareholder outreach, and changes to compensation design. Equity pay is now available for management and directors other than CEO Julie Smolyansky and her immediate family, whose compensation uses cash-based performance awards under existing agreements.
Lifeway Foods insider filing reports an open-market sale by a trust associated with Ludmila Smolyansky. The Ludmila Smolyansky Trust 2/1/05 sold 15,000 shares of Lifeway Foods common stock at $26.50 per share on April 20, 2026.
After this transaction, the trust continues to hold 732,823 shares indirectly for her benefit. The filing also notes that shares held by The Smolyansky Family Foundation and The Ludmila and Edward Smolyansky Family Foundation are excluded because she has no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in those holdings.
Ludmila Smolyansky filed a Form 144 to sell up to 15,000 shares of common stock of LifeWay Foods Inc. The filing lists 15,000 shares with an aggregate amount of $397,500, to be handled through RBC Capital Markets on 04/20/2026. The filing shows a prior sale of 10,000 shares on 03/18/2026 for $188,000 and records an acquisition by Michael Smolyansky dated 01/01/2002 by inheritance.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. director Juan Carlos Dalto reported an award of 776 shares of phantom stock on March 31, 2026. Each phantom share represents the right to receive one share of common stock and becomes payable when he no longer serves as a director.
The phantom stock was acquired by deferring his cash compensation for board service for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 under the Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan. Following this award, he holds 7,362 phantom stock units, 4,751 common shares, and multiple restricted stock unit grants with future vesting dates.
Lifeway Foods director Kirk Chartier reported a compensation-related equity award. He acquired 857 shares of phantom stock by deferring his cash fees for service on the board for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Each phantom share represents a right to receive one share of common stock when he no longer serves as a director.
The filing also shows Chartier holding 2,512 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one share of common stock that vests on December 30, 2026, if he continues serving as a director through that date.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. director Jason Scott Scher reported equity-based compensation and existing holdings rather than open-market trading. He received an award of 1,277 shares of phantom stock, representing deferred cash compensation for Board service for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
After this award, he holds 80,874 phantom stock units, each representing a right to receive one share of common stock, payable when he no longer serves as a director. He also holds several blocks of restricted stock units (RSUs) that each convert into one share of common stock at no exercise price.
The RSUs vest on specified future dates, including December 30, 2026, August 31, 2026, and in tranches of 1,356 and 1,354 RSUs on July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2027, contingent on his continued service as a director.
Harris Andee reported acquisition or exercise transactions in this Form 4 filing.
Lifeway Foods, Inc. director Andee Harris received 873 shares of phantom stock as a non-cash grant tied to deferred board compensation for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Each phantom share represents a right to one common share, payable when she no longer serves as a director.
Harris also holds 2,512 restricted stock units, each representing a contingent right to one common share. These RSUs are scheduled to vest on December 30, 2026, contingent on her continued service on the board through that vesting date.