exh99-1_17568.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1

Lifeway Foods Announces Results for the Third Quarter of 2013

Third Quarter 2012 Net Sales Increase 15% to $23.8 Million

Morton Grove, IL — November 14, 2013—Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), a leading supplier of cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2013.

“We are pleased to report another strong quarter, which demonstrates our steady progress in growing Lifeway into a leading health food brand,” said Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods. “Our team has remained focused on creating delicious and nutritious kefir products for our customers and the demand for Lifeway Foods continues to increase. The investments we have made in our business have created strong momentum and we are on track to report record results this year. Looking ahead, we believe that we will continue to deliver consistent returns to our shareholders as we grow the distribution of our products in the United States and abroad.”

Third Quarter Results

Third quarter of 2013 gross sales increased 18% to $26.6 million compared to $22.6 million for the third quarter of 2012. This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and awareness of the Company’s flagship line, Kefir, as well as ProBugs® Organic Kefir for kids and BioKefir™.

Total consolidated net sales increased 15% or $3.2 million to $23.8 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2013 from $20.6 million during the same three-month period in 2012.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2013 was $6.9 million, which was approximately the same in the third quarter of the prior year. The Company's gross profit margin was 29% in the third quarter of 2013 compared to 33% in the third quarter of 2012. This was primarily attributable to a 35% increase in the cost of milk, the Company’s largest raw material.

Total operating expenses decreased 3% or $0.1 million to $4.7 million during the third quarter of 2013, from $4.8 million during the same period in 2012. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease selling related expenses.

Total operating income increased $0.1 million to $2.2 million during the third quarter of 2013, from $2.1 million during the same period in 2012.

During the 3 month period ended September 30, 2013, the company sold certain assets that were acquired in the Golden Guernsey Wisconsin production facility in July 2013 for net sale proceeds of $537,500. In connection with the sale of those assets, the company recognized a gain of approximately $209,000, which is included in other income.

The Company’s third quarter 2013 effective tax rate was 29% compared to 32% in the same period last year.

Total net income was $1.7 million or $0.10 per diluted share for the three-month period ended September 30, 2013 compared to $1.4 million or $0.09 per diluted share in the same period in 2013.

Nine Month Results

Total consolidated gross sales increased by $13.2 million, or approximately 20%, to $80.0 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013 from $66.9 million during the same nine-month period in 2012. This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and awareness of the Company’s flagship line, Kefir, as well as ProBugs® Organic Kefir for kids and BioKefir™.

Total consolidated net sales increased by $10.7 million, or approximately 18%, to $71.3 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013 from $60.6 million during the same nine-month period in 2012.

Gross profit for the first nine months of 2013 increased 11% to $22.8 million, compared to $20.6 million in the third quarter of the prior year. The Company's gross profit margin decreased to 32% in the first nine months versus 34% in the same period last year. Gross profit was negatively impacted primarily by the increased price of milk, the Company’s largest raw material. The cost of milk was approximately 25% higher compared to the first nine months of 2012.

Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were approximately 20% during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013 compared to approximately 22% during the same period in 2012. General and administrative expenses increased by $0.9 million (approximately 20%) to $5.6 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013, from $4.6 during the same period in 2012.

Total net income was $5.5 million or $0.33 per share for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013 compared to $4.6 million or $0.28 per share in the same period in 2012.

Balance Sheet/Cash Flow Highlights

The Company had $1.2 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2013 compared to $2.4 million at September 30, 2012. Total stockholder’s equity was $43.4 million as of September 30, 2013, which is an increase of $5.0 million when compared to September 30, 2012.

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $2.5 million to $3.6 million for the first nine months of 2013.

Net cash used in investing activities was $7.9 million during the nine-months ended September 30, 2013 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $1.2 during the same period in 2012. This increase is primarily attributable to purchases of property and equipment of $7.4 million.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results with additional comments and details on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of Lifeway Foods’ website at www.lifeway.net, and will be archived online through November 28, 2013. In addition, listeners may dial 877-407-3982 in North America, and international listeners may dial 201-493-6780. Participants from the Company will be Edward Smolyansky, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

About Lifeway Foods

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (LWAY), recently named one of Fortune Small Business' Fastest Growing Companies for the sixth consecutive year, is America’s leading supplier of the cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir. Lifeway Kefir is a dairy beverage that contains 10 exclusive live and active probiotic cultures plus ProBoost™. In addition to its line of Kefir products, the company produces a variety of Frozen Kefir and probiotic cheese products. Lifeway also sells frozen kefir, kefir smoothies and kefir parfaits through its Starfruit™ retail stores. Find Lifeway Foods, Inc. on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifewaykefir Follow Lifeway Foods on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lifeway_kefir YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lifewaykefir.

Forward Looking Statements

Investors and readers are cautioned that certain statements contained in this news release, as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements of Lifeway officials during presentations about Lifeway, along with Lifeway’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Lifeway’s registration statements, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, are "forward-looking'' statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act''). Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, which depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, which include words such as "expects," "anticipates,'' "intends,'' "plans,'' "could," "might," "believes,'' "seeks," "estimates'' or similar expressions. In addition, any statements concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible future actions, which may be provided by Lifeway’s management, are also forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Act. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions including, but not limited to, competitive pressures and other important factors detailed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and Lifeway undertakes no specific obligation or intention to update these statements after the date of this release.

Contact:


Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Phone: 877.281.3874
Email: info@Lifeway.net
Investor Relations:

ICR

Katie Turner
John Mills 646.277.1228

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

September 30, 2013 and 2012 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2012

	(Unaudited) September 30,					December 31,
	2013			2012		2012
ASSETS

Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,240,730		$	2,379,565	$	2,286,226
Investments		2,506,463			2,032,598		1,869,888
Certificates of deposits in financial institutions		115,373			450,000		450,000
Inventories		8,382,287			5,569,887		5,939,186
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts and discounts		11,313,652			10,002,065		8,723,737
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		88,629			45,350		97,138
Other receivables		89,100			3,946		8,825
Deferred income taxes		394,277			315,887		234,687
Refundable income taxes		423,242			84,828		84,828
Total current assets	$	24,553,753		$	20,884,126	$	19,694,515

Property and equipment, net		21,637,492			14,754,312		14,986,776

Intangible assets
Goodwill and other non-amortizable brand assets		14,068,091			14,068,091		14,068,091
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $4,376,640 and $3,662,477 at September 30, 2013 and 2012 and $3,842,756 at
December 31, 2012, respectively		3,929,360			4,643,523		4,463,242
Total intangible assets		17,997,451			18,711,614		18,531,333

Other Assets
Long-term accounts receivable net of current portion		280,000			162,522		294,000
Total assets	$	64,468,696		$	54,512,574	$	53,506,624

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current liabilities
Current maturities of notes payable	$	878,088		$	580,781	$	542,981
Accounts payable		5,429,988			5,118,902		4,256,725
Accrued expenses		1,323,213			894,092		1,155,677
Accrued income taxes		1,292,762			1,341,652		254,311
Total current liabilities		8,924,051			7,935,427		6,209,694

Notes payable		9,214,853			5,096,675		4,955,945

Deferred income taxes		2,917,213			3,112,529		3,028,518

Total liabilities		21,056,117			16,144,631		14,194,157

Stockholders' equity
Common stock, no par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized; 17,273,776 shares issued; 16,346,017 shares outstanding at September 30, 2013; 17,273,776
shares issued; 16,359,017 shares outstanding at
September 30, 2012; 17,273,776 shares issued; 16,346,017 shares outstanding at December 31, 2012		6,509,267			6,509,267		6,509,267

Paid-in-capital		2,032,516			2,032,516		2,032,516
Treasury stock, at cost		(8,187,682	)		(8,077,239)		(8,187,682	)
Retained earnings		43,056,422			37,831,275		38,904,777
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes		2,056			72,124		53,591
Total stockholders' equity		43,412,579			38,367,943		39,312,469

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	64,468,696		$	54,512,574	$	53,506,626

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

September 30, 2013 and 2012 (Unaudited)

	(Unaudited) Three Months Ended September 30,								(Unaudited) Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2013				2012				2013				2012
Sales	$	26,601,341			$	22,617,132			$	80,030,021			$	66,876,986
Less: discounts and allowances		(2,808,811)				(1,997,399)				(8,772,576)				(6,306,675)
Net Sales		23,792,530		23,792,530		20,619,733		20,619,733		71,257,445		71,257,445		60,570,311		60,570,311

Cost of goods sold				16,513,357				13,342,566				47,217,179				38,771,897
Depreciation expense				410,797				407,567				1,226,629				1,219,721

Total cost of goods sold				16,924,154				13,750,133				48,443,808				39,991,618

Gross profit				6,868,376				6,869,600				22,813,637				20,578,693

Selling expenses				2,815,126				2,974,294				8,291,960				8,300,810
General and administrative				1,671,080				1,620,967				5,567,649				4,626,853
Amortization expense				178,201				197,129				533,884				574,538

Total Operating Expenses				4,664,407				4,792,390				14,393,493				13,502,201

Income from operations				2,203,969				2,077,210				8,420,144				7,076,492

Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income				36,535				16,270				82,166				52,321
Rental income				2,231				4,270				8,889				10,284
Interest expense				(59,887)				(41,897)				(133,610)				(136,000)
Gain (loss) on sale of investments, net, reclassified from OCI				161				4,024				121,441				26,415
Other income				209,175				0				219,404				0
Total other income (expense)				188,215				(17,333)				298,290				(46,980)

Income before provision for income taxes				2,392,184				2,059,877				8,718,434				7,029,512

Provision for income taxes				702,257				657,697				3,258,928				2,483,216

Net income			$	1,689,927			$	1,402,180				5,459,506			$	4,546,296

Basic and diluted earnings per common share				0.10				0.09				0.33				0.28

Weighted average number of shares outstanding				16,346,017				16,366,974				16,346,017				16,380,793

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Net income			$	1,689,927			$	1,402,180				5,459,506			$	4,546,296

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on investments (net of tax)				29,356				62,266				17,079				95,996
Less reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (net of taxes)				(91)				(2,274)				(68,614)				(14,924)

Comprehensive income			$	1,719,192			$	1,462,172			$	5,407,971			$	4,627,368

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2013 and 2012 (Unaudited)

	(Unaudited)
	September 30,
	2013			2012

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	5,459,506		$	4,546,296
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,760,513			1,794,259
Loss (gain) on sale of investments, net		(121,441	)		(26,415	)
Deferred income taxes		(231,218	)		(458,424	)
Bad Debt Expense		26,819			332,301
Loss (gain) on sale of equipment		(209,175	)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Accounts receivable		(2,612,905	)		(2,106,020	)
Other receivables		(80,275	)		220,258
Inventories		(2,443,101	)		(615,412	)
Refundable income taxes		(338,414	)		(43,512	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		33,509			34,280
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Accounts payable		1,173,263			732,663
Accrued expenses		167,536			340,367
Income taxes payable		1,038,451			1,341,652
Net cash provided by operating activities		3,623,068			6,092,293

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(2,877,968	)		(1,092,976	)
Proceeds from sale of investments		2,281,792			802,026
Redemption of certificates of deposits		334,627			(150,000	)
Purchases of property and equipment		(8,205,669	)		(775,210	)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		537,500			0
Net cash used in investing activities		(7,929,718	)		(1,216,160)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Checks written in excess of bank balances		—			(592,040	)
Purchases of treasury stock		—			(470,265	)
Dividends paid		(1,307,861	)		(1,146,317	)
Net proceeds from debt issuance		4,975,000			0
Repayment of notes payable		(405,985	)		(1,403,096	)
Net cash used in financing activities		3,261,154			(3,611,718	)

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(1,045,496	)		1,264,415

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period		2,286,226			1,115,150

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	1,240,730		$	2,379,565