Type Public Industry Health food Founder Michael Smolyansky Number of employees 200 | Traded as NASDAQ: LWAY Products Kefir Founded 1986 | |
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Key people Julie Smolyansky (CEO)
Michael Smolyansky (COO) Revenue US$137.2 million (2015) Stock price LWAY (NASDAQ) US$ 11.07 0.00 (0.00%)16 Mar, 4:00 PM GMT-4 - Disclaimer CEO Julie Smolyansky (Jun 2002–) Headquarters Morton Grove, Illinois, United States Subsidiaries Helios Nutrition Ltd, Pride of Main Street Dairy LLC Profiles | ||
From niche products to global icon lifeway foods ceo talks transition
Lifeway Foods is an American health food company selling kefir founded in 1986.
Contents
History
Lifeway Foods was founded by Michael Smolyansky, an immigrant who arrived in the United States from Odessa, Ukraine, in 1976. Ten years after moving to the US, he found the fermented milk drink kefir at a food show and decided to start producing it. The company started in Michael's basement, but it soon turned public. After Michael's death in 2002, his daughter, Julie Smolyansky, took over the company.
Products
Lifeway's flagship product is kefir. Lifeway sells it in several varieties, including low-fat, non-fat, Greek, organic, and low-carb varieties, as well as these in several different flavors. The company also produces farmer cheese resembling Eastern-European style tvorog.