# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000814586
**File Stem:** 0001999371-25-008727
**Filing Date:** 2025-7
**Character Count:** 5799
**Document Hash:** 2dc0d5848551bb08d1b295dd5652003d
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001999371-25-008727.hdr.sgml**: 20250703

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001999371-25-008727

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: DEFA14A

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250703

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250703

**FILER**: 

**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:** DEFA14A
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-42398
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251105918

**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

**UNITED STATES<br> SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

**SCHEDULE 14A**

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.)

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Filed by the Registrant ☒ | Filed by the Registrant ☒ |
| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ | Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐ |
| Check the appropriate box: | Check the appropriate box: |
| ☐ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | **Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))** |
| ☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ☒ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |

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| |
|:---|
| **Lifeway Foods, Inc.** |
| (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
| (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply): | Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply): |
| ☒ | No fee required |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |

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**UNITED STATES<br> SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<br> Washington, D.C. 20549<br>FORM 8-K<br>CURRENT REPORT<br> Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934**

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): **July 3, 2025**

**LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.**

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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Illinois** | **000-17363** | **36-3442829** |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction<br> of Incorporation) | (Commission <br> File Number) | (IRS Employer <br> Identification No.) |

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **6431 Oakton Street<br> Morton Grove, Illinois** | **60053** |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |

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

**N/A**

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☒ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Title of each class | &nbsp;&nbsp;Trading Symbol(s) | &nbsp;&nbsp;Name of each exchange on which registered |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Common Stock, no par value** | &nbsp;&nbsp;**LWAY** | &nbsp;&nbsp;**The NASDAQ Stock Market** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Preferred Stock Purchase Rights** | &nbsp;&nbsp;**n/a** | &nbsp;&nbsp;**The NASDAQ Stock Market** |

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). ☐

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

**Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.**

On July 3, 2025, Lifeway Foods, Inc., an Illinois corporation, issued a press release regarding the consent solicitation statement filed by Ludmila Smolyansky, Edward Smolyansky, Richard Beleutz, Cindy Curry, Michael Leydervuder, George Sent and Robert Whalen. A copy of the press release is furnished as [Exhibit 99.1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000199937125008726/ex99-1.htm) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

**Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.**

(d) Exhibits.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** |
| 99.1 | Press Release issued by Lifeway Foods, Inc. on July 3, 2025 |

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**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.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.** | **LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.** |
| Date: July 3, 2025 | By: | /s/ Julie Smolyansky |
|  |  | Name: Julie Smolyansky<br> Title: Chief Executive Officer and Secretary |

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