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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001072613-02-000994.txt : 20020625
<SEC-HEADER>0001072613-02-000994.hdr.sgml : 20020625
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20020625124611
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001072613-02-000994
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20020610
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other events
ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial statements and exhibits
FILED AS OF DATE:		20020625

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIFEWAY FOODS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814586
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DAIRY PRODUCTS [2020]
		IRS NUMBER:				363442829
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-17363
		FILM NUMBER:		02686274

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6431 W OAKTON
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7089671010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6431 W OAKTON
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form8-k_11331.txt
<DESCRIPTION>LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. FORM 8-K
<TEXT>
================================================================================

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


             Date of Report (earliest event reported): June 10, 2002





                               LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




          Illinois                  0-17363                     36-3442829
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission                  (IRS Employer
      of incorporation)           File Number)               Identification No.)



 6431 W. Oakton, Morton Grove, Illinois                             60053
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (847) 967-1010
                                                     ----------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
================================================================================
<PAGE>

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

The Company confirmed on Monday, June 10, 2002, and issued a press release on
Tuesday, June 11, announcing that Company founder and president Michael
Smolyansky died Sunday (June 10) of a heart attack at the age of 55.

Julie Smolyansky, the founder's daughter and the company's director of sales and
marketing, was appointed president, CEO and treasurer at a special board of
directors meeting late Monday, June 10. Ms. Smolyansky was also named to the
board of directors to fill a vacancy left by her father's death.

Ms. Smolyansky joined the Company in September 1997 and has served as the
company's director of sales and marketing. Ms. Smolyansky has implemented new
marketing, advertising and public relations campaigns and has played a key role
in new product introductions. She holds a bachelors degree from the University
of Illinois (1996).

The Company expects that all 2,118,338 shares of common stock of the Company
(approximately 50% of the total outstanding) that were owned by Michael
Smolyansky at the time of his death will remain in the immediate Smolyansky
family following the probate of his estate.

A copy of the press release is included as an exhibit to this current report.


ITEM 7. EXHIBITS

Exhibits. The following exhibits are furnished in accordance with the provisions
of Item 601 of Regulation S-B.


           Exhibit No.     Description
           -----------     -----------
                 99.1      Press Release dated June 11, 2002.



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.


                                        By: /S/ JULIE SMOLYANSKY
                                           -------------------------------------
                                            Julie Smolyansky, President and CEO

Date:  June 25, 2002



                                        2
<PAGE>

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                  -------------



           Exhibit No.     Description
           -----------     -----------
                 99.1      Press Release dated June 11, 2002.
























                                        3

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>exhibit99-1_11331.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1
                                                                    ------------


Lifeway Foods Announces Death of President Michael Smolyansky; Board Appoints
Julie Smolyansky as Successor

Updated: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 10:03 AM ET

MORTON GROVE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2002--Lifeway Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq:
LWAY, news, msgs), a leading manufacturer of kefir and other cultured dairy
products, announced today that company founder and president Michael Smolyansky
died Sunday of a heart attack at the age of 55. Julie Smolyansky, the founder's
daughter and the company's director of sales and marketing, was appointed
president, CEO and treasurer at a special board of directors meeting late
Monday.

Ms. Smolyansky was also named to the board of directors to fill a vacancy left
by her father's death.

Valeriy Nikolenko, company secretary and vice president in charge of production,
will continue to oversee the day-to-day manufacturing operations.

Julie Smolyansky joined Lifeway in 1997 and has implemented new marketing,
advertising and public relations campaigns that have contributed significantly
to the company's growth. She has also played a key role in new product
introductions. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and is currently
pursuing a M.B.A. at the Stuart Graduate School of Business at the Illinois
Institute of Technology.

Lifeway is a manufacturer of cultured, probiotic and functional food products in
the health food industry, and is America's leading supplier of the cultured
dairy product known as kefir. The Company markets 12 flavors of kefir and does a
successful business exporting its products to Canada. The Company also
participates in the organic and soy markets with Lifeway Organic(TM), Organic
Kefir and Kefir Cheese, and America's first non-dairy soy kefir called
SoyTreat(TM).

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned
that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties including, but not
limited to, competitive pressures and other important factors detailed in the
Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



    CONTACT:  Press
              S&S Public Relations
              Roxanne Pascente, 847/955-7730 ext. 288
              Steve Simon, 847/955-7730 ext. 237





</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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