---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001683168-25-008776"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LWAY"
cik: "0000814586"
company_name: "Lifeway Foods, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-12-01T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-16T15:59:05.479354+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Lifeway appoints two directors, attacks dissident nominees as unfit; annual meeting moved to Dec 29

## Summary
- Appointed Kirk Chartier and Susie Hultquist as directors effective Nov 26, 2025; annual meeting rescheduled from Dec 16 to Dec 29.
- Company says Edward Smolyansky was terminated for cause as COO, intoxicated on duty, defaulted on $10.4M mortgage; Ludmila Smolyansky faces $2.3M tax liens.
- George Sent, former lead independent director, now aligns with dissident despite prior ISS recommendation against dissident nominees.
- Company highlights strong performance: 788% TSR over 5 years, 123% revenue growth since FY2019, record Q3 2025 net sales $57.1M (+29%).
- Board refreshment: four new independent directors appointed in Oct-Nov 2025 per cooperation agreement with Danone.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001683168-25-008776
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LWAY
- cik: 0000814586
- company_name: Lifeway Foods, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-12-01T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316825008776/0001683168-25-008776-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814586/000168316825008776/lifeway_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-25-008776
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-25-008776.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001683168-25-008776.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.