Lifeway Foods, Inc.: insider trades · United States · SEC (Form 4)

About Lifeway Foods, Inc.

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (ticker: LWAY) is a U.S.-based company listed on the NASDAQ exchange in the United States, with its corporate headquarters in Morton Grove, Illinois. Founded in 1986 by Michael Smolyansky after his family emigrated from Eastern Europe to the United States, Lifeway has developed into a specialized branded food company focused on cultured dairy and functional nutrition. Its core business is drinkable kefir, the company’s flagship product and the foundation of its brand identity, supported by other fermented dairy offerings positioned in the “better-for-you” category. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316825001592/lifeway_i10k-123124.htm?utm_source=openai)) From an operating perspective, Lifeway maintains a largely U.S.-based manufacturing footprint, with facilities in Morton Grove, Illinois; Waukesha, Wisconsin; Niles, Illinois; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company reports that the vast majority of revenue is derived from products manufactured in its own facilities, which supports tighter control over quality, supply chain execution, and product availability. It also uses third-party co-packers for certain products, which gives it additional flexibility in production capacity. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316826001886/lifeway_i10k-123125.htm?utm_source=openai)) In competitive terms, Lifeway describes itself as the largest producer and marketer of kefir in the United States. That leadership position gives it a differentiated niche in a market that sits at the intersection of probiotics, digestive health, and functional foods. While the competitive landscape includes larger and better-capitalized food companies, Lifeway benefits from strong brand recognition in kefir and from a focused product proposition that is not easily replicated by broadline dairy competitors. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316826003839/lifeway_i10q-033126.htm?utm_source=openai)) The company’s main product line remains drinkable kefir, but management has been actively broadening the brand into adjacent categories and channels. According to the company’s disclosures, Lifeway is seeking to extend its brand into fresh categories and additional distribution channels such as convenience stores, foodservice, club channels, and drug stores. This suggests a strategy aimed at expanding household penetration while reducing reliance on a narrow set of retail pathways. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316826001886/lifeway_i10k-123125.htm?utm_source=openai)) Geographically, Lifeway remains primarily a domestic U.S. business, but it has also expanded select international distribution. The company states that its products are now sold across the United States, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Central America, and the Caribbean. That international reach is still modest relative to the U.S. market, but it adds optionality for future growth. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316826003838/lifeway_ex9901.htm?utm_source=openai)) Recent developments are important for investors. In fiscal 2025, Lifeway reported net sales of $212.5 million, up 13.7% year over year, with growth driven mainly by higher volumes of branded drinkable kefir. The company also indicated that comparable sales growth was stronger after adjusting for prior-year customer and logistics changes. In early 2026, it reported continued sales momentum and highlighted ongoing marketing investment. At the same time, fiscal 2025 included elevated legal and professional expenses tied to Danone’s unsolicited purchase proposal and stockholder-related matters, which is a notable governance and overhang issue to monitor. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316826001886/lifeway_i10k-123125.htm?utm_source=openai))