Form 8-K

8-K — Lifeway Foods, Inc.

Accession: 0001683168-26-002570

Filed: 2026-04-01

Period: 2026-04-01

CIK: 0000814586

SIC: 2020 (DAIRY PRODUCTS)

Item: Results of Operations and Financial Condition

Item: Financial Statements and Exhibits

Documents

8-K — lifeway_8k.htm (Primary)

EX-99.1 — PRESS RELEASE (lifeway_ex9901.htm)

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8-K — CURRENT REPORT

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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):

April 1, 2026

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

ILLINOIS

000-17363

36-3442829

(State

or other jurisdiction of

incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

6431

West Oakton St. Morton

Grove, IL

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 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each Class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value

LWAY

The Nasdaq Stock Market

Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

None

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 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On April 1, 2026, Lifeway Foods, Inc. (the “Company”) issued

a press release announcing estimated unaudited net sales of between $60.8 and $62.3 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026,

representing a 32-35% increase from the same period in the prior year.

A copy of the Press Release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and

incorporated herein by reference.

The information in this Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 attached

hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange

Act”) 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 regardless

of any general incorporation language in such filing.

This Current Report and Exhibit 99.1 hereto contain “forward-looking

statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and those regarding

the Company’s intent, belief, plans or expectations for the Company’s business, operations, financial performance or condition,

including, without limitation, statements regarding estimated unaudited net sales. These statements use words, and variations of words,

such as “continue,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “project,”

“estimate,” “outlook,” “potential,” “forecast” and similar expressions or future or conditional

verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” “may” and “could.” You are cautioned

not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Current Report, are

based on current expectations of future events and thus are inherently subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve

factors or circumstances beyond the Company’s control. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties

materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company’s expectations and projections. These risks, uncertainties and

other factors include: price competition; the decisions of customers or consumers; the actions of competitors; changes in the pricing

of commodities; and the effects of government regulation; possible delays in the introduction of new products; and customer acceptance

of products and services. A further list and description of these risks and uncertainties, and other factors can be found in the Company’s

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. Copies of these filings are available online at https://www.sec.gov,

http://lifewaykefir.com/investor-relations/, or on request from the Company. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update

any forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated

events or new information), except as required by law.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

Exhibit No.

Description

99.1

Press Release dated April

1, 2026.

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.

Date: April 1, 2026

By:

/s/ Eric Hanson

Name:

Eric Hanson

Title:

Chief Financial Officer

EX-99.1 — PRESS RELEASE

EX-99.1

Filename: lifeway_ex9901.htm · Sequence: 2

Exhibit 99.1

Lifeway Foods Surges Into 2026, Projecting 32%

to 35% First Quarter Growth

Momentum Signals Continued Kefir & Farmer

Cheese Boom

Announces First Quarter 2026 Earnings Date

of May 14, 2026

MORTON GROVE, Ill., April 1, 2026 – Lifeway Foods, Inc.

(Nasdaq: LWAY) (“Lifeway” or the “Company”), the leading U.S. supplier of kefir and fermented probiotic products

to support the microbiome, today provided preliminary financial outlook for the first quarter of 2026 and announced the timing of its

upcoming earnings date.

The Company expects net sales for the first quarter ended March 31,

2026 to be in the range of $60.8 million to $62.3 million, an increase of 32% to 35% compared to the first quarter ended March 31, 2025,

reflecting continued momentum across Lifeway’s core kefir and farmer cheese portfolio, with strong consumer demand for protein-rich,

probiotic foods.

“We are entering 2026 with strong velocity across our business

and continued demand for Lifeway’s category-leading kefir and farmer cheese,” said Julie Smolyansky, President and Chief Executive

Officer of Lifeway Foods. “Our focus remains on expanding distribution, driving innovation and delivering consistent, profitable

growth as we build on our leadership in the fermented dairy space.”

First Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast

Lifeway will

report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 on May 14, 2026, before market open. At 9am ET on May 14, 2026,

a pre-recorded conference call and webcast with Julie Smolyanksy, Lifeway's President and Chief Executive Officer, discussing these results

with additional comments and details, will be made available through the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website

at https://lifewaykefir.com/webinars-reports/.

About Lifeway Foods, Inc.

Lifeway Foods, Inc., which has been recognized as one of America's

Growth Leaders by TIME, as Dairy Foods' Processor of the Year 2025, one of Forbes' Best Small Companies and named to Inc.'s 2025 Best

in Business list in the Best Challenger Brands category, 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements"

as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, unaudited estimated net sales. These

statements use words, and variations of words, such as "anticipate," "plan," "project," "estimate,"

"potential," "forecast," "will," "continue," "future," "increase," "believe,"

"outlook," "expect," and "predict." You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These

forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, are based on current expectations of future events and thus

are inherently subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances beyond Lifeway's control.

If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially

from Lifeway's expectations and projections. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include: price competition; the decisions of

customers or consumers; the actions of competitors; changes in the pricing of commodities; the effects of government regulation; possible

delays in the introduction of new products; and customer acceptance of products and services. A further list and description of these

risks, uncertainties, and other factors can be found in Lifeway's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025

and the Lifeway's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025, and September 30, 2025.

Copies of these filings are available online at https://www.sec.gov, http://lifewaykefir.com/investor-relations/, or on request from Lifeway.

Lifeway expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements (including, without limitation, to reflect changed

assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or new information), except as required by law.

Derek Miller

Vice President of Communications, Lifeway Foods

Email: derekm@lifeway.net

Perceptual Advisors

Dan Tarman

Email: dtarman@perceptualadvisors.com

General inquiries:

Lifeway Foods, Inc.

Phone: 847-967-1010

Email: info@lifeway.net

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