EXHIBIT 99.1

 

Lifeway Foods Announces First Quarter 2014 Financial Results

First Quarter Gross Sales Increase 16% to $32.1 Million

First Quarter Net Sales Increase 20% to $29.1 Million

Morton Grove, IL — May 12, 2014 — Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), a leading supplier of cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

“We are pleased to report our results for the first quarter in which we achieved robust sales growth,” said Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, Inc. “I believe this demonstrates a strong start to the 2014 fiscal year. I am impressed with our team’s ability to closely manage expenses despite increased margin pressure due to milk prices. We believe that the progress we have made in product innovation and the positive consumer response to our products has positioned us well to capitalize on our growth opportunities. We continue to add new distribution in the US and to expand Lifeway’s kefir probiotic reach. Looking ahead, our team remains committed to delivering increased financial results and we expect fiscal 2014 to be another record year.”

First Quarter Results

First quarter of 2014 gross sales increased approximately 16% to $32.1 million compared to $27.6 million for the first quarter of 2013.  This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and awareness of the Company’s flagship line, Kefir, as well as ProBugs® Organic Kefir for kids and BioKefir™.

First quarter total consolidated net sales increased approximately 20% to $29.1 million from $24.4 million in the first quarter of 2013.  Net sales are recorded as gross sales less promotional activities such as slotting fees paid, couponing, spoilage and promotional allowances as well as early payment terms given to customers.  The total allowance for promotions and discounts in the first quarter of 2014 was approximately $2.9 million or 9% of gross sales, compared to $3.2 million or approximately 12% of gross sales in the same period last year.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net sales, excluding depreciation expense, were approximately 74% during the first quarter of 2014, compared to approximately 63% during the same period in 2013. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2014 decreased 18% to approximately $7.1 million, compared to approximately $8.6 million in the first quarter of the prior year. The gross profit margin decreased to 24% in the first quarter 2014 versus 35% in the first quarter of 2013. The decrease was primarily attributable to the increased cost of conventional milk, the Company’s largest raw material.  The total cost of milk was approximately 35% higher during the first quarter 2014 when compared to the same period in 2013.

Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales were approximately 21% during the first quarter of 2014, compared to approximately 20% during the same period in 2013.  This was primarily attributable to an increase in selling related expenses, which increased approximately 24% to $3.5 million during the first quarter of 2014, from $2.8 million during the same period in 2013.

The Company reported income from operations of $1.0 million during the first quarter of 2014 compared to $3.7 million during the same period in 2013.

Provision for income tax was $0.3 million or a 34% effective tax rate for the first quarter compared to a provision for income tax of $1.4 million or a 37% effective tax rate during the same period in 2013.

Total net income was $0.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 compared to $2.4 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the same period in 2013.

Balance Sheet/Cash Flow Highlights

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2.5 million as of March 31, 2014 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $3.3 million as of December 31, 2013.

Total stockholder’s equity was $43.6 million as of March 31, 2014, which is an increase of $0.7 million when compared to December 31, 2013.  This is primarily due to the increase in retained earnings of $0.7 million when compared to December 31, 2013.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results with additional comments and details on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live over the Internet hosted at the Investor Relations section of Lifeway Foods’ website at www.lifeway.net, and will be archived online through May 26, 2014. In addition, listeners may dial 877-407-3982 in North America, and international listeners may dial 201-493-6780. Participants from the Company will be Julie Smolyansky, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Edward Smolyansky, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.

About Lifeway Foods

Lifeway Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: LWAY), recently named one of Fortune Small Business' Fastest Growing Companies for the sixth consecutive year, is America's leading supplier of the cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir. Lifeway Kefir is a dairy beverage that contains 10 exclusive live and active probiotic cultures plus ProBoost™. In addition to its line of Kefir products, the company produces a variety of Frozen Kefir and probiotic cheese products. Lifeway also sells frozen kefir, kefir smoothies and kefir parfaits through its Starfruit™ retail stores.

Find Lifeway Foods, Inc. on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifewaykefir

Follow Lifeway Foods on Twitter: http://twitter.com/lifeway_kefir

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/lifewaykefir.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, competitive pressures and other important factors detailed in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact:

Lifeway Foods, Inc.

Phone: 877.281.3874

Email: info@Lifeway.net

Investor Relations:

ICR

Katie Turner

John Mills

646.277.1228

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

March 31, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2013

	March 31,						December 31,
	2014			2013			2013
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,474,708		$	2,739,957		$	3,306,608
Investments		2,790,935			2,062,343			2,516,380
Certificates of deposits in financial institutions		—			250,000			15,373
Inventories		7,355,884			7,080,899			6,899,008
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts and discounts ($1,300,000 and $1,350,000 and $1,050,000)		10,794,866			11,915,981			10,444,839
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		39,855			92,827			128,323
Other receivables		91,628			5,165			103,272
Deferred income taxes		360,110			295,701			322,071
Refundable income taxes		2,580,323			84,828			1,014,947
Total current assets		26,488,309			24,527,701			24,750,821
Property and equipment, net		21,248,982			14,917,260			20,824,448
Intangible assets
Goodwill and other non amortizable brand assets		14,068,091			14,068,091			14,068,091
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of
$4,734,478, $4,020,598 and $4,555,559 at March 31, 2014
and 2013 and at December 31, 2013, respectively		3,571,522			4,285,403			3,750,441
Total intangible assets		17,639,613			18,353,494			17,818,532
Other Assets
Long-term accounts receivable net of current portion		273,000			294,000			280,000
Total assets	$	65,649,904		$	58,092,455		$	63,673,801
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current maturities of notes payable	$	879,354		$	543,591		$	875,002
Accounts payable		6,958,999			6,465,801			6,723,179
Accrued expenses		2,732,170			1,197,883			1,284,060
Accrued income taxes		—			462,593			—
Total current liabilities		10,570,523			8,669,868			8,882,241
Notes payable		8,775,587			4,820,160			8,999,012
Deferred income taxes		2,689,167			2,909,134			2,843,426
Total liabilities		22,035,277			16,399,162			20,724,679
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, no par value; 40,000,000 shares authorized;
17,273,776 shares issued; 16,346,017 shares outstanding
at March 31, 2014; 17,273,776 shares issued; 16,346,017 shares outstanding at March 31, 2013 and 16,346,017 shares outstanding at December 31, 2013		6,509,267			6,509,267			6,509,267
Paid-in-capital		2,032,516			2,032,516			2,032,516
Treasury stock, at cost		( 8,187,682	)		( 8,187,682	)		( 8,187,682	)
Retained earnings		43,247,392			41,270,416			42,587,214
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes		13,134			68,776			7,807
Total stockholders' equity		43,614,627			41,693,293			42,949,122
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	65,649,904		$	58,092,455		$	63,673,801

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013

	(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2014						2013
Sales	$	32,061,147					$	27,590,622
Less: discounts and allowances		( 2,929,436	)					( 3,203,591	)
Net sales		29,131,711			29,131,711			24,387,031			24,387,031
Cost of goods sold					21,681,910						15,402,875
Depreciation expense					383,361						394,125
Total cost of goods sold					22,065,271						15,797,000
Gross profit					7,066,440						8,590,031
Selling expenses					3,479,688						2,813,572
General and administrative					2,380,631						1,868,100
Amortization expense					178,919						177,842
Total operating expenses					6,039,238						4,859,514
Income from operations					1,027,202						3,730,517
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income					28,698						15,009
Rental income					500						3,269
Interest expense					( 65,569	)					( 36,299	)
Gain (loss) on sale of investments, net
reclassified from OCI					4,808						64,335
Loss on disposition of assets					—						—
Other income (expense)					—						—
Total other income (expense)					(31,563	)					46,314
Income before provision for
income taxes					995,639						3,776,831
Provision for income taxes					335,461						1,411,192
Net income				$	660,178					$	2,365,639
Basic and diluted earnings
per common share					0.04						0.14
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding					16,346,017						16,346,017
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income				$	660,178					$	2,365,639
Other comprehensive income
(loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on
investments (net of tax)					8,044						51,535
Less reclassification adjustment
for (gains) losses included in
net income (net of taxes)					(2,717	)					( 36,349	)
Comprehensive income				$	665,505					$	2,380,825

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2013

	March 31,
	2014			2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	660,178		$	2,365,639
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		562,280			571,967
Loss (gain) on sale of investments, net		(4,808	)		(64,335	)
Deferred income taxes		(196,401	)		(192,090	)
Bad Debt Expense		126,049			51,819
Loss (Gain) on sale of equipment		—			—
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Accounts receivable		(468,826	)		(3,244,063	)
Other receivables		11,644			3,660
Inventories		(456,876	)		(1,141,713	)
Refundable income taxes		(1,565,376	)		—
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		88,468			4,311
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Accounts payable		235,820			2,209,076
Accrued expenses		1,448,110			42,206
Income taxes payable		—			208,282
Net cash provided by operating activities		440,262			814,759
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		(814,804	)		(1,271,516	)
Proceeds from sale of investments		554,609			1,170,271
Investments in certificates of deposits		—			—
Redemption of certificates of deposits		15,000			200,000
Purchases of property and equipment		(807,894	)		(324,608	)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		—			—
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(1,053,089	)		(225,853	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of notes payable		(219,073	)		(135,175	)
Net cash provided (used in) financing activities		(219,073	)		(135,175	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents		(831,900	)		453,731
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period		3,306,608			2,286,226
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	$	2,474,708		$	2,739,957