Lifeway Food SEC Filings

Lifeway Foods, Inc. reported that its Compensation Committee approved new forms for deferred cash awards under the company’s 2022 Omnibus Incentive Plan. These include a Notice of Deferred Time-Vested Cash Award and a Notice of Deferred Performance-Based Cash Award, which will govern how certain cash incentives are structured and deferred.

The two forms are provided as exhibits to the report, signaling a formal framework for both time-based and performance-linked deferred cash compensation for eligible participants under the plan.

Lifeway Foods, Inc. CFO Eric A. Hanson reported equity compensation and related tax withholding. On March 6, 2026, he received 2,672 restricted stock units and 21,396 shares of common stock at no cost, tied to previously granted performance share units whose performance goals were certified that day.

To cover tax obligations, 8,024 shares of common stock were surrendered to the company at $21.50 per share, with no stock sold on the market. After these transactions, Hanson directly owns 57,036 common shares and holds several blocks of restricted stock units scheduled to vest between June 16, 2026 and March 6, 2029, subject to continued service.

Lifeway Foods, Inc. CEO Julie Smolyansky reported compensation-related equity activity, not open-market trading.

On March 6, 2026, 13,334 previously granted restricted stock units vested and were settled in cash, with related shares disposed to the issuer at $21.50 per share, leaving her with 2,139,318 common shares held directly. On the same date, 108,426 performance share units tied to three-year revenue and adjusted EBITDA goals were certified; these are scheduled to be settled in cash by March 15, 2027, unless Danone North America PBC consents to settlement in common stock or such consent is no longer required.

Divisadero Street Capital Management and related entities filed an amended Schedule 13G reporting passive ownership of Lifeway Foods, Inc. common stock. They report beneficial ownership of 1,347,635 shares, equal to 8.9% of Lifeway’s common stock as of 12/31/2025, with shared voting and dispositive power over all reported shares.

The filing explains that all securities are directly owned by advisory clients of Divisadero Street Capital Management, including Divisadero Street Partners, L.P., and that the reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership beyond their pecuniary interests. They also certify the position is not held for the purpose of influencing control of Lifeway Foods.

Lifeway Foods, Inc. CFO Eric A. Hanson reported equity award activity and updated holdings. On January 10, 2026, restricted stock units converted into 3,751 shares of common stock, increasing his directly held shares to 45,384. The filing shows that 1,720 shares were then surrendered to the company for tax withholding, rather than sold in the market, leaving 43,664 common shares held directly.

The report also details multiple restricted stock unit grants. One grant covers 2,390 RSUs scheduled to vest on June 16, 2026 if he remains in service. Another includes units of which 1,261 RSUs are scheduled to vest on January 10, 2027 under continued service conditions. A further grant of 2,228 RSUs is structured to vest in three equal steps in March 2026, 2027, and 2028, again contingent on continued service.

Lifeway Foods director Dorri McWhorter reported equity award activity involving restricted stock units and common shares. On January 10, 2026, 3,151 shares of Lifeway Foods common stock were acquired following the vesting and settlement of previously granted restricted stock units, bringing her directly held common stock to 25,936 shares.

The filing also shows she continues to hold 2,512 restricted stock units scheduled to vest on December 30, 2026, and 2,710 restricted stock units scheduled to vest in two installments on July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2027, all contingent on her continued service as a director.

Lifeway Foods, Inc. director Juan Carlos Dalto reported equity award activity and deferral elections rather than an open-market stock sale. On January 10, 2026, previously vested restricted stock units (RSUs) totaling 3,151 units were converted into an equal number of phantom stock shares under the company’s 2022 Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan, to be paid when he no longer serves as a director.

Following these transactions, Dalto beneficially owns 4,751 shares of common stock directly, along with 2,512 RSUs scheduled to vest on December 30, 2026, and 2,710 RSUs that are scheduled to vest in tranches on July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2027, subject to continued service. He also holds 6,586 shares of phantom stock, each representing a right to receive one share of common stock in the future.

Lifeway Foods director Jason Scott Scher reported equity award activity and a deferral election. On January 10, 2026, previously granted restricted stock units (RSUs) that had vested earlier were settled, with 1,600 RSUs and 1,551 RSUs converted in connection with prior vesting dates. Instead of receiving common stock, Scher deferred the settlement under the company’s 2022 Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan and received 3,151 shares of phantom stock, each linked to one share of common stock and payable when he no longer serves as a director. He continues to hold RSUs scheduled to vest in 2026 and 2027, as well as phantom stock and a small direct common share position.