<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001683168-25-004961.txt : 20250707
<SEC-HEADER>0001683168-25-004961.hdr.sgml : 20250707
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250707195654
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001683168-25-004961
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	SCHEDULE 13D/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250707
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250707

SUBJECT COMPANY:	

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Lifeway Foods, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814586
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DAIRY PRODUCTS [2020]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	04 Manufacturing
		EIN:				363442829
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SCHEDULE 13D/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	005-50073
		FILM NUMBER:		251109308

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6431 W OAKTON
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-967-1010

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6431 W OAKTON
		CITY:			MORTON GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60053

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIFEWAY FOODS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

FILED BY:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMOLYANSKY LUDMILA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227848
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		SCHEDULE 13D/A
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<TYPE>SCHEDULE 13D/A
<SEQUENCE>1
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    <submissionType>SCHEDULE 13D/A</submissionType>
    <previousAccessionNumber>0001683168-25-001644</previousAccessionNumber>
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      <filer>
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    <coverPageHeader>
      <amendmentNo>24</amendmentNo>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common Stock</securitiesClassTitle>
      <dateOfEvent>07/02/2025</dateOfEvent>
      <previouslyFiledFlag>false</previouslyFiledFlag>
      <issuerInfo>
        <issuerCIK>0000814586</issuerCIK>
        <issuerCUSIP>531914109</issuerCUSIP>
        <issuerName>Lifeway Foods, Inc.</issuerName>
        <address>
          <com:street1>6431 W Oakton</com:street1>
          <com:city>Morton Grove</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>60053</com:zipCode>
        </address>
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      <authorizedPersons>
        <notificationInfo>
          <personName>Edward Smolyansky</personName>
          <personPhoneNum>847-967-1010</personPhoneNum>
          <personAddress>
            <com:street1>1219 N Wells St</com:street1>
            <com:city>Chicago</com:city>
            <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
            <com:zipCode>60610</com:zipCode>
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        <reportingPersonCIK>0001227848</reportingPersonCIK>
        <reportingPersonNoCIK>N</reportingPersonNoCIK>
        <reportingPersonName>Ludmila Smolyansky</reportingPersonName>
        <memberOfGroup>a</memberOfGroup>
        <fundType>OO</fundType>
        <legalProceedings>N</legalProceedings>
        <citizenshipOrOrganization>X1</citizenshipOrOrganization>
        <soleVotingPower>865166.00</soleVotingPower>
        <sharedVotingPower>75000.00</sharedVotingPower>
        <soleDispositivePower>865166.00</soleDispositivePower>
        <sharedDispositivePower>75000.00</sharedDispositivePower>
        <aggregateAmountOwned>940166.00</aggregateAmountOwned>
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        <percentOfClass>6.2</percentOfClass>
        <typeOfReportingPerson>IN</typeOfReportingPerson>
        <commentContent>Note to Row (11): In accordance with Rule 13d-101 under the Act, the reporting person has calculated the percentage of outstanding shares beneficially owned by her based on 15,203,241 shares reported to be outstanding as of May 6, 2025 (the "Reported Outstanding Shares"), as contained in the issuer's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2025, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2025.  The reporting person does not hereby concede that all such Reported Outstanding Shares are validly issued and outstanding, including, without limitation, any shares purported to have been issued to Julie Smolyansky or her spouse without the consent of Danone North America PBC.</commentContent>
      </reportingPersonInfo>
      <reportingPersonInfo>
        <reportingPersonCIK>0001227847</reportingPersonCIK>
        <reportingPersonNoCIK>N</reportingPersonNoCIK>
        <reportingPersonName>Edward Smolyansky</reportingPersonName>
        <memberOfGroup>a</memberOfGroup>
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        <legalProceedings>N</legalProceedings>
        <citizenshipOrOrganization>X1</citizenshipOrOrganization>
        <soleVotingPower>2584975.00</soleVotingPower>
        <sharedVotingPower>575000.00</sharedVotingPower>
        <soleDispositivePower>2584975.00</soleDispositivePower>
        <sharedDispositivePower>575000.00</sharedDispositivePower>
        <aggregateAmountOwned>3159975.00</aggregateAmountOwned>
        <isAggregateExcludeShares>N</isAggregateExcludeShares>
        <percentOfClass>20.8</percentOfClass>
        <typeOfReportingPerson>IN</typeOfReportingPerson>
        <commentContent>Note to Row (11): In accordance with Rule 13d-101 under the Act, the reporting person has calculated the percentage of outstanding shares beneficially owned by him based on the Reported Outstanding Shares.  The reporting person does not hereby concede that all such Reported Outstanding Shares are validly issued and outstanding, including, without limitation, any shares purported to have been issued to Julie Smolyansky or her spouse without the consent of Danone North America PBC.</commentContent>
      </reportingPersonInfo>
      <reportingPersonInfo>
        <reportingPersonNoCIK>Y</reportingPersonNoCIK>
        <reportingPersonName>The Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16</reportingPersonName>
        <memberOfGroup>a</memberOfGroup>
        <fundType>OO</fundType>
        <legalProceedings>N</legalProceedings>
        <citizenshipOrOrganization>X1</citizenshipOrOrganization>
        <soleVotingPower>1233333.00</soleVotingPower>
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        <sharedDispositivePower>0.00</sharedDispositivePower>
        <aggregateAmountOwned>1233333.00</aggregateAmountOwned>
        <isAggregateExcludeShares>N</isAggregateExcludeShares>
        <percentOfClass>8.1</percentOfClass>
        <typeOfReportingPerson>OO</typeOfReportingPerson>
        <commentContent>Note to Row (11): In accordance with Rule 13d-101 under the Act, the reporting person has calculated the percentage of outstanding shares beneficially owned by it based on the Reported Outstanding Shares.  The reporting person does not hereby concede that all such Reported Outstanding Shares are validly issued and outstanding, including, without limitation, any shares purported to have been issued to Julie Smolyansky or her spouse without the consent of Danone North America PBC.</commentContent>
      </reportingPersonInfo>
    </reportingPersons>
    <items1To7>
      <item1>
        <securityTitle>Common Stock</securityTitle>
        <issuerName>Lifeway Foods, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerPrincipalAddress>
          <com:street1>6431 W Oakton</com:street1>
          <com:city>Morton Grove</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IL</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>60053</com:zipCode>
        </issuerPrincipalAddress>
        <commentText>This Amendment No. 24 (this "Amendment") further amends and supplements the Schedule 13D filed by Ludmila Smolyansky, Edward Smolyansky and The Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16 (the "Edward Smolyansky Trust" and, together with Ludmila Smolyansky and Edward Smolyansky, the "Filing Persons"). This Amendment is being filed by the Filing Persons for the purpose of providing the additional information set forth below.</commentText>
      </item1>
      <item4>
        <transactionPurpose>Item 4 is hereby amended and supplemented by the addition of the following:

On July 2, 2025, Edward Smolyansky and Ludmila Smolyansky filed a definitive consent statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to a consent solicitation with respect to the following proposals: (i) to repeal any amendment to the Second Amended and Restated By-Laws (the "Bylaws") of Lifeway Foods, Inc. (the "Company") that is made by the Company's board of directors (the "Board") and becomes effective on or after March 24, 2023 and prior to the effective this proposal becoming effective; (ii) to remove each director of the Company and any other director appointed by the Board on or after June 15, 2024 and prior to this proposal becoming effective, subject to the election of at least one Nominee pursuant to the proposal described in clause (iii), below; (iii) to elect each of Ludmila Smolyansky, Edward Smolyansky, Richard Beleutz, Cindy Curry, Michael Leydervuder, George Sent and Robert Whalen (each a "Nominee"), to serve as directors of the Company until the Company's next annual meeting of shareholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified (or, if any such Nominee is unable or unwilling to serve as a director of the Company, or if the Board changes the number of directorships to be a number other than seven, the persons designated as Nominees by the then-remaining Nominee(s)), subject to the approval of the proposal described in clause (ii), above; and (iv) to amend the Bylaws, as reflected in the consent statement, to prohibit the Company from employing or engaging any immediate family member of the Company's president or chief executive officer.

On July 2, 2025, Mrs. Smolyansky and Mr. Smolyansky also issued a press release, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, which is incorporated herein by reference.

On July 7, 2025, Mr. Smolyansky sent a letter to the Company's President requesting, in accordance with Section 7.05 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act, that the Company give notice of an annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company (the "2025 Annual Meeting") and demanding, in accordance with Section 2.1.1 of the Bylaws, that the Company hold the 2025 Annual Meeting, in each case as promptly as practicable.</transactionPurpose>
      </item4>
      <item7>
        <filedExhibits>Exhibit 99.1 -  Press release, dated July 2, 2025</filedExhibits>
      </item7>
    </items1To7>
    <signatureInfo>
      <signaturePerson>
        <signatureReportingPerson>Ludmila Smolyansky</signatureReportingPerson>
        <signatureDetails>
          <signature>/s/ Ludmila Smolyansky</signature>
          <title>Ludmila Smolyansky</title>
          <date>07/07/2025</date>
        </signatureDetails>
      </signaturePerson>
      <signaturePerson>
        <signatureReportingPerson>Edward Smolyansky</signatureReportingPerson>
        <signatureDetails>
          <signature>/s/ Edward Smolyansky</signature>
          <title>Edward Smolyansky</title>
          <date>07/07/2025</date>
        </signatureDetails>
      </signaturePerson>
      <signaturePerson>
        <signatureReportingPerson>The Edward Smolyansky Trust 2/2/16</signatureReportingPerson>
        <signatureDetails>
          <signature>/s/ Edward Smolyansky</signature>
          <title>Edward Smolyansky, Trustee</title>
          <date>07/07/2025</date>
        </signatureDetails>
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<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>smolyansky_ex9901.htm
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE DATED JULY 2, 2025
<TEXT>
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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left"><B>Exhibit
99.1</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>&nbsp;</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 12pt"><B>Edward Smolyansky
and Ludmila Smolyansky File Definitive Consent Statement to Replace Entire Board of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY)</B></FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>CHICAGO, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ </B>&mdash; Edward and Ludmila
Smolyansky, long-term shareholders of Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWAY) who together exercise voting control with respect to approximately
23.2% of the outstanding shares of Lifeway Foods, today announced the filing of a definitive consent statement with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (SEC). The filing initiates a process to remove Lifeway&rsquo;s current board of directors and elect a new slate
of nominees who will be focused on restoring accountability, transparency and long-term shareholder value.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Mr. Smolyansky and Mrs. Smolyansky are seeking shareholder approval
on four proposals: to repeal any bylaw amendments adopted after March 24, 2023; to remove all current directors, including CEO and Chair
Julie Smolyansky; to elect a new board of seven highly qualified nominees who collectively have deep experience in governance, finance,
operations, and consumer products; and to amend Lifeway&rsquo;s by-laws to prohibit it from employing or engaging any immediate family
member of its President or Chief Executive Officer. The Board Removal and Director Election Proposals are conditioned on one another to
ensure continued board leadership during the transition.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&ldquo;It is apparent to us that the current board has no intent to
engage with us. We believe this consent solicitation is the most direct and effective way to return Lifeway to the people who actually
own it,&rdquo; said Edward Smolyansky. &ldquo;The company&rsquo;s circumstances demand bold, unprecedented action. We must end entrenched,
self-serving control and bring in leadership that will act in the best interests of all shareholders.&rdquo;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&ldquo;We believe that the board has repeatedly disregarded shareholder
feedback, failed to articulate a credible strategy, and chosen to reward failure. It&rsquo;s clear to us that this board cannot be trusted
to lead Lifeway forward,&rdquo; said Edward Smolyansky.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">For more information, and to contact us, visit FreeLifeway.com and
Linkedin</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Important Information and Where to Find It</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">This communication is not a request for a proxy to vote on, or shareholder
consent with respect to, any matter. Any written solicitation of a proxy or shareholder consent by Mr. Smolyansky or Mrs. Smolyansky will
be made through a definitive proxy statement or definitive consent statement, including the <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316825004873/lifeway_defn14a.htm">definitive consent statement filed by them with the SEC on July 2, 2025</A> (the &ldquo;Consent Statement&rdquo;), which will be delivered or given to requisite shareholders. Lifeway
shareholders are urged to read the Consent Statement, including any amendments or supplements thereto, and any other soliciting materials,
when they become available because they will contain important information. Shareholders may obtain, free of charge, copies of the Consent
Statement, and other relevant documents, at www.sec.gov.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0"><B>Participants in the Solicitation</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Mr. Smolyansky and Mrs. Smolyansky filed the Consent Statement
with the SEC on July&nbsp;2, 2025, which relates to, among other matters, their intent to seek shareholder consents to remove
Lifeway&rsquo;s current board of directors and elect each of Ludmila Smolyansky, Edward Smolyansky, Richard Beleutz, Cindy Curry,
Michael Leydervuder, George Sent and Robert Whalen (each, a &ldquo;<U>Nominee</U>&rdquo;) as directors of Lifeway. In addition, Mr.
Smolyansky filed a <A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316825002629/smolyansky-lifeway_prec14a.htm">preliminary proxy statement with the SEC on April 16, 2025</A>, relating to his intent to nominate each Nominee
for election as directors of Lifeway at its 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. Each Nominee may be deemed to have an interest in
any solicitation of written consents or proxies by Mr. Smolyansky and Mrs. Smolyansky, as applicable.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">The participants (the &ldquo;<U>Participants</U>&rdquo;) in any solicitation
of shareholder consents or proxies by Mr. Smolyansky or Mrs. Smolyansky may be deemed to be Mr. Smolyansky, Mrs. Smolyansky and each of
the other Nominees. Lifeway shareholders can obtain information regarding the Participants and their direct and indirect interests, by
security holdings or otherwise, in Appendix B to the Consent Statement, which information is incorporated herein by reference.</P>

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