<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001683168-25-004124.txt : 20250602
<SEC-HEADER>0001683168-25-004124.hdr.sgml : 20250602
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250602083845
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001683168-25-004124
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	DFAN14A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250602
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250602

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:		DFAN14A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-42398
		FILM NUMBER:		251013237

	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 EDWARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227847
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		DFAN14A
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<TYPE>DFAN14A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>smolyansky_dfan14a.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
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<P STYLE="font: bold 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Edward Smolyansky Announces Campaign Updates, Files Revised Preliminary
Consent Statement to Remove and Replace Lifeway Foods&rsquo; Directors</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">CHICAGO, June&nbsp;2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ &mdash;&nbsp;Edward and Ludmila
Smolyansky, beneficial owners of approximately 27% of Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY), today issued a statement expressing serious concerns
about the company&rsquo;s Q1 2025 performance and what they describe as the Board&rsquo;s ongoing pattern of poor governance and misaligned
priorities.</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">Although Lifeway reported a 44% year-over-year increase in GAAP earnings
per share, Mr. Smolyansky emphasized that this was entirely due to a one-time $3.4 million gain from an investment sale, not from any
improvement in the company&rsquo;s underlying kefir business. He and Mrs. Smolyansky cited several troubling operational trends, including:</P>

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

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 3%"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 3%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="width: 94%">Income from operations declined nearly 55% year-over-year.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Operating margin fell to approximately 3.4%, down from 7.9% in Q1 2024.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Net sales increased only 3.3% year-over-year and declined 1.8% sequentially from Q4 2024.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Revenue from the 2021 acquisition of Glen Oaks, a Laguna Beach, California-based drinkable yogurt company lacking any tangible assets,
has declined approximately 50% to date. Notably, only two Directors &ndash; Edward and Ludmila Smolyansky &ndash; voted against this acquisition.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Selling expenses rose sharply &ndash;&nbsp;up 27% year-over-year and 35% from Q4, without a corresponding increase in sales.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Gross margin contracted by 180 basis points to 24.0%; SG&amp;A expenses climbed to 20.2% of sales.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD>Insider stock sales by Director Pol Sikar and CEO Julie Smolyansky following the May 15, 2025 earnings release raised additional concerns
about management&rsquo;s confidence in the company&rsquo;s outlook.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Ludmila and Edward Smolyansky also criticized the Board&rsquo;s governance
and oversight, highlighted by its handling of the Danone offer, the subsequent attempt to nullify the Company&rsquo;s 1999 Stockholder
Agreement with Danone, and the award of $8.5 million in cash and shares granted to CEO/Chair Julie Smolyansky by the Board shortly thereafter.
The Smolyanskys also shared their views that:</P>

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

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<TD STYLE="width: 3%"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 3%"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify; width: 94%">The combined CEO/Chair role, while occupied by Ms. Smolyansky, has been a significant governance failure
resulting in lack of independent oversight;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">The handling of Danone&rsquo;s offer and subsequent attempt to sever ties may have market implications
that the Board has failed to consider;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">The questionable compensation awards granted to CEO/Chair Julie Smolyansky at the end of 2024 were in
flagrant opposition to shareholder sentiment conveyed at last year&rsquo;s annual meeting; and</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD>&nbsp;</TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD></TD><TD><FONT STYLE="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt">&middot;</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Only a reconstituted Board with an independent committee tasked with assessing strategic alternatives
and potentially re-engaging with Danone, in the manner deserving of a 25-year investor and partner, can produce a more favorable outcome
for shareholders.</TD></TR></TABLE>

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<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0pt 0">Edward Smolyansky stated, &ldquo;After carefully considering our options,
we have determined that this consent path offers the quickest and most efficient route to achieving our goals and objectives.&rdquo; He
added, &ldquo;I feel confident, based on outreach I have received from the investment community, that there is broad support for swift
and decisive change.&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">Today&rsquo;s revised filing follows a preliminary consent statement
submitted in August 2024. The Smolyanskys also filed a preliminary proxy statement on March 28, 2025, and an amended version on May 5,
which included a full slate of independent director nominees. They are calling for immediate action to restore operational discipline,
shareholder alignment, and long-term value creation.</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">Additional information about the 2025 Lifeway Foods Proxy Campaign,
including nomination materials and Securities and Exchange Commission (&ldquo;<U>SEC</U>&rdquo;) filings, is available at <U>FreeLifeway.com</U>
and via Edward Smolyansky&rsquo;s LinkedIn profile.</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 will be made through
a definitive proxy statement or definitive consent statement. Promptly after Mr. Smolyansky files a definitive proxy statement or definitive
consent statement with the SEC, he intends to mail the definitive proxy statement and accompanying proxy card (or a notice of internet
availability of proxy materials), or the definitive consent statement and accompanying consent card to requisite shareholders. Lifeway
shareholders are urged to read Mr. Smolyansky&rsquo;s proxy statement or consent statement, as the case may be, including any amendments
or supplements thereto, and his other soliciting materials, if any, when they become available because they will contain important information.
Shareholders may obtain, free of charge, copies of the proxy statement or consent statement, and other relevant documents, when filed
with the SEC 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 has filed (i)&nbsp;a preliminary consent statement (the
&ldquo;<U>Preliminary Consent Statement</U>&rdquo;) with the SEC on June&nbsp;2, 2025, relating to, among other matters, his intent to
seek shareholder consents to 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, and (ii)&nbsp;a preliminary proxy statement (the
&ldquo;<U>Preliminary Proxy Statement</U>&rdquo;) with the SEC on April&nbsp;16, 2025, 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.</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 may be deemed to be Mr. 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 Preliminary Consent Statement and in the Schedule 13D/A filed by Mrs. Smolyansky, Mr. Smolyansky and The Edward Smolyansky Trust
2/2/16 with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June&nbsp;2, 2025, which information is incorporated herein by reference.</P>

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