Lifeway Foods, Inc. (NASDAQ: LWAY) Largest Shareholders, Ludmila and Edward Smolyansky, Demand Resignations of the Company's CEO and Certain Directors | LWAY Stock News

Seek Resignation of Lead Director JasonScher, Directors Pol Sikar, Jody Levy, Dorri McWhorter and Perfecto Sanchez and CEO/Chairperson Julie SmolyanskySeek Immediate Termination of JulieSmolyansky's "Chief of Staff" and Spouse, Jason Burdeen, a Former JewelerCall for the Adoption of an Anti-Nepotism PolicyCall for Operational and Strategic Review of BusinessRelated Presentation Availablewww.lifebacktolifeway.com, /PRNewswire/ -- Ludmila and EdwardSmolyansky (the "Smolyanskys"), who beneficially own approximately 29% of the outstanding common stock of Lifeway Foods, Inc. ("Lifeway" or the "Company"), today announced their demand that the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Julie Smolyansky, and certain of the Company's other directors, resign from their positions. The Smolyanskys believe these actions are necessary to avoid further underperformance and mismanagement of Company assets, and that new leadership can deliver swift and significant changes to shareholders. The Smolyanskys' previous campaign, which began in February 2022, called for replacing the Company's CEO and commencing an exploration of the Company's strategic alternatives. Lifeway's shares rose approximately 50% following that disclosure. The Smolyanskys subsequently agreed to terminate their campaign in exchange for a commitment by the Company to, among other things, engage a nationally recognized financial advisor to assist it with the exploration of strategic alternatives. Edward Smolyansky stated, "Lifeway did not make a good faith effort to honor its obligations under our settlement agreement, and by February 2023 it was apparent that it had breached the agreement. In light of the board's failures, we believe that even significant changes are needed, and are calling for resignations of each of the board's directors, other than Juan Carlos Dalto, who we believe is the only qualified independent director."Last spring, Kanen Wealth Management (KWM) became the fourth largest stockholder in Lifeway and launched an activist campaign on June 8, 2023, issuing a scathing lettercritical of Julie and her Board. Lifeways' share price again rallied 15% on the news. The Smolyanskys believe the board was never fully informed of this activist campaign by the CEO and her husband. Director Dorri McWhorter testified to this under oath in December 2023.Meanwhile, Lifeway shares have continued to underperform. Since Lifeway's recent intraday high of $28.61 recorded on May 10, 2024, its stock price has lost approximately 54% of its value based on the closing price on July17, 2024. Lifeway's stock price is also well below several recent public valuation estimates. In June 2023, KWM estimated the value at about twice sales or about $20 per share, and currently Lake St. and Noble Capital have a combined average target of $24 per share, or nearly double today's price.Lifeway's CEO also has a credibility issue when discussing historical results, such as when she recently touted "17 consecutive quarters of revenue growth" and other "monumental results" mostly driven by volume growth. The reality is very different.Since 2016, Lifeway has posted a revenue CAGR of approximately 3.1%, excluding an unauthorized and ill-advised 2021 acquisition of Glen Oaks Yogurt, as well as heavy post-Covid inflationary related price increases since 2020. Recently, in the second quarter of 2024, Lifeway secured a limited-time rotation of its flagship 32-ounce kefir in Sam's Club outlets through June.However, Lifeway's marketing strategy and budget are totally disconnected from reality. It has completely failed to capitalize on the Covid 19 stay at home environment in 2020 and 2021. For example, Lifeway's advertising expense as a percentage of revenue stagnated around 2.5% from 2020 through 2023, an unacceptable strategy for any consumer packaged goods company in America, let alone one on the cusp of becoming the "next Tropicana or Hersheys," as was recently proclaimed by the CEO."Lifeway's pattern of retrenching, doubling down on past failures, and management's ego-driven inability to self-reflect make it impossible for the brand to achieve its full potential and value. For Lifeway to move forward, it must get out of its own way. Decades old, entrenched leadership must also get out of the way," stated Mr. Smolyansky.www.purecultureorganics.comAbout:Ludmila Smolyansky, 74, served as a director of the Company from 2002 until May 16, 2023, and unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Board in November 2002. She has been the operator of several independent delicatessen and gourmet food distributorship businesses, and imported food distributorships, and been a leading force in the health food market for over 40 years. Ludmila Smolyansky and Michael Smolyansky founded Lifeway and she served as the Company's General Manager. In 2010, she retired as a Company employee. She continued to serve the Company as its Chairperson of the Board until August 2022 and served as a consultant to the Company from 2011 until January 2022.Mr. Smolyansky, 44, served as a director of the Company from 2017 until the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders of the Company. Prior to January 2022, he also served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed as Chief Financial and Accounting Officer and Treasurer of the Company in November 2004 and appointed as the Chief Operating Officer and Secretary in 2012. He resigned his titles as Chief Financial Officer on January 1, 2016 and as Chief Accounting Officer on August 8, 2016. He retained his title of Chief Operating Officer when the Board appointed Eric Hanson as Treasurer and as Secretary on October 4, 2019. Mr. Smolyansky also served as Lifeway's Controller from June 2002 until 2004. Mr. Smolyansky received a bachelor's degree in finance from Loyola University of Chicago in December 2001.Mr. Smolyansky has over fifteen years of extensive financial and operations experience in the dairy and consumer packaged goods industries. Under his operational leadership, the Company successfully integrated several strategic acquisitions and he successfully led the development of both manufacturing processes and products.SOURCE Pure Culture Organics