# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000814586
**File Stem:** 0001999371-25-010196
**Filing Date:** 2025-7
**Character Count:** 11710
**Document Hash:** d63b9713b359a278dee36f9c993ef639
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001999371-25-010196.hdr.sgml**: 20250729

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001999371-25-010196

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 14

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20250729

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20250729

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20250729

**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:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-42398
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251163075

**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

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? Current Report

**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 (Date of earliest event reported): **July 29, 2025**

**LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.**

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

---

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

---

---

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

---

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:

---

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

---

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 29, 2025, Lifeway Foods, Inc., an Illinois corporation (the "Company"), 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 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information under Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, or incorporated by reference into any of the Company's filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in any such filing.

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

(d) Exhibits.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** |
| [99.1](ex99-1.htm) | [Press Release issued by Lifeway Foods, Inc. on July 29, 2025.](ex99-1.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |

---

**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.** | **LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.** |
| Date: July 29, 2025 | By: | /s/ Julie Smolyansky |
|  | Name: | Julie Smolyansky<br>|
|  | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Secretary |

---

## Exhibit 99.1

[LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. 8-K](lifeway-8k_072925.htm)

**Exhibit 99.1**

**Lifeway Foods Acknowledges ISS Recommendation to Reject Dissident Campaign**

Morton Grove, IL – July 29, 2025 – Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWAY), a leading U.S. supplier of kefir and fermented probiotic products, today announced that Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), a leading independent proxy advisory firm, has recommended that shareholders "DO NOT VOTE" in connection with the ongoing dissident-led consent solicitation.

In its report, ISS concluded that "the dissident has not presented a compelling case for change" and advised shareholders to "DO NOT VOTE" on all proposals put forth by Ludmila and Edward Smolyansky and their aligned group.

"We appreciate ISS's thorough review and are pleased that their recommendation supports our belief that this consent solicitation is unwarranted, disruptive and not in the best interest of Lifeway shareholders," said Julie Smolyansky, CEO and Chair of Lifeway Foods.

The ISS analysis noted that:

- Lifeway's "financial performance has been directionally positive" and its "share price [has] rallied over the preceding year on multiple positive earnings announcements," with total shareholder return significantly outperforming peers in the Russell 3000 Food Producers Index.

- The dissident group's critiques "are generally presented without adequate context," and the dissident group "does not clearly establish how various developments have actually impacted shareholder returns."

- The dissident group "has not presented a plan should it successfully secure a majority of board seats" for governance or operational improvement.

- The dissident nominees include individuals who previously contributed to governance concerns during their past tenures at the Company.

"The Lifeway Board and management team remain focused on maximizing shareholder value and will continue to pursue all opportunities to drive additional value," added Smolyansky. "We encourage shareholders to follow ISS's guidance and take no action on the consent solicitation."

**About Lifeway Foods, Inc.**

Lifeway Foods, Inc., which has been recognized as one of Forbes' Best Small Companies, is America's leading supplier of the probiotic, fermented beverage known as Kefir. In addition to its line of drinkable Kefir, the company also produces a variety of cheeses and a ProBugs line for kids. Lifeway's tart and tangy fermented dairy products are now sold across the United States, Mexico, Ireland, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and France. Learn how Lifeway is good for more than just you at lifewayfoods.com.

**Important Additional Information**

The Company intends to file a proxy statement on Schedule 14A, an accompanying BLUE proxy card and other relevant documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") in connection with the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders for the Company's 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE COMPANY'S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO), THE ACCOMPANYING BLUE PROXY CARD AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders may obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement, an accompanying BLUE proxy card, any amendments or supplements to the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge by visiting the "Investor Relations" tab of the Company's website at http://lifewaykefir.com/investor-relations/. The Company may file a consent revocation statement, in which case all references to a proxy statement, proxies, proxy cards and solicitation of proxies referenced in this "Important Additional Information" section and the "Participants in the Solicitation" section below shall be deemed to refer to such consent revocation statement, consent revocations, revocation cards and solicitation of consent revocations.

**Participants in the Solicitation**

The Company, each of its independent directors (Juan Carlos Dalto, Jody Levy, Dorri McWhorter, Perfecto Sanchez, Jason Scher and Pol Sikar) and certain of its executive officers (Julie Smolyansky, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary, and Eric Hanson, Chief Financial and Accounting Officer and Treasurer) are deemed to be "participants" (as defined in Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders in connection with matters to be considered at the Company's 2025 annual meeting of shareholders. Information about the names of the Company's directors and officers, their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise and their respective compensation is set forth in the "Information About Our Directors and Executive Officers" section in Part III, Item 10 – Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance of Amendment No. 1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2025 (the "Form 10-K Amendment"), in Part III, Item 11 – Executive Compensation of the Form 10-K Amendment and in the "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" section in Part III, Item 12 – Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters of the Form 10-K Amendment. Supplemental information regarding the participants' holdings of the Company's securities can be found in SEC filings on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC on June 18, 2025 for Julie Smolyansky (available <u>here</u>) and Eric Hanson (available <u>here</u>) and on July 1, 2025 for each of Pol Sikar (available <u>here</u>), Juan Carlos Dalto (available <u>here</u>), Jason Scott Scher (available <u>here</u>), Dorri McWhorter (available <u>here</u>), Perfecto Sanchez (available <u>here</u>), and Jody Levy (available <u>here</u>).

**Contact:**

Perceptual Advisors <br> Dan Tarman <br> Email: <u>dtarman@perceptualadvisors.com</u>

Derek Miller<br> Vice President of Communications, Lifeway Foods<br> Email: <u>derekm@lifeway.net</u>

General inquiries: <br> Lifeway Foods, Inc.<br> Phone: 847-967-1010 <br> Email: <u>info@lifeway.net</u>