Lifeway Foods, Inc. Announces Record Results for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2022

Net sales increase 29.1% year-over-year to $38.1 million ; up 46.5% compared to 2020

Delivers 12^th straight quarter of year-over-year net sales growth

MORTON GROVE, Ill., Nov. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifeway Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: LWAY) ("Lifeway" or "the Company"), a leading U.S. supplier of kefir and fermented probiotic products to support the microbiome, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 .

"Despite the large macro trends that have affected consumers and competitors in our category, I am pleased to report that Lifeway has achieved a year-over-year net sales increase of 29.1% for the third quarter of 2022, with a two-year stack increase of 46.5% compared to the third quarter of 2020," said Julie Smolyansky, Lifeway's President and Chief Executive Officer. "This quarter's record-breaking topline numbers are a result of our focus on the core Lifeway Kefir business. The strategy we've put in place to build awareness for our flagship product has yielded our 12^th consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth at Lifeway, and we are grateful to our customers who have made this milestone possible. As we look forward, our objectives are to increase our assortment and distribution at retail partners with whom we've had tremendous success, gain exposure through marketing campaigns and penetrate additional channels. We have recently gained traction within the convenience channel, and see this as an opportunity to build brand awareness and introduce new consumers to our single-serve products. We look forward to finishing the year strong and preparing for a healthy 2023."

Third Quarter 2022 Results

Net sales were $38.1 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, an increase of $8.6 million or 29.1% from the same period in 2021. The net sales increase was primarily driven by higher volumes of our branded drinkable kefir and the impact of price increases implemented during the first quarter of 2022, and to a lesser extent the favorable impact of our acquisition of GlenOaks Farms during the third quarter of 2021.

Gross profit as a percentage of net sales was 19.9% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 .

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $0.4 million to $6.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022, from $5.9 million during the same period in 2021.

The Company reported net income of $1.0 million or $0.06 per basic and diluted common share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 .

Conference Call and Webcast

A pre-recorded conference call and webcast with Julie Smolyansky discussing these results with additional comments and details is available through the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at https://lifewaykefir.com/webinars-reports/ and will also be available for replay.

About Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Lifeway Foods, Inc., which has been recognized as one of Forbes' Best Small Companies, 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 cheese, probiotic oat milk, and a ProBugs line for kids. Lifeway's tart and tangy fermented dairy products are now sold across the United States, Mexico, Ireland and France . Learn how Lifeway is good for more than just you at lifewayfoods.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release (and oral statements made regarding the subjects of this release) contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, business strategy and objectives. These statements use words, and variations of words, such as "continue," "build," "future," "increase," "drive," "believe," "look," "ahead," "confident," "deliver," "outlook," "expect," and "predict." Other examples of forward looking statements may include, but are not limited to, (i) statements of Company plans and objectives, including the introduction of new products, or estimates or predictions of actions by customers or suppliers, (ii) statements of future economic performance, and (III) statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about Lifeway or its business. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events and thus are inherently subject to uncertainty. 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, 2021, and the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC. Copies of these filings are available online at https://www.sec.gov, http://lifewaykefir.com/investor-relations/, or on request from Lifeway. Information in this release is as of the dates and time periods indicated herein, and Lifeway does not undertake to update any of the information contained in these materials, except as required by law. Accordingly, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THE ACCURACY OF ANY OF THE STATEMENTS OR OTHER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN ANY ARCHIVED PRESS RELEASE.

Media:
Derek Miller
Vice President of Communications, Lifeway Foods
Email: [email protected]

General inquiries:
Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Phone: [phone]
Email: [email protected]

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 (In thousands)
		September 30, 2022				December 31,
		Unaudited				2021
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	8,933			$	9,233
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts & allowances of $1,400 and $1,170 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 respectively			11,507				9,930
Inventories, net			9,192				8,285
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			1,369				1,254
Refundable income taxes			653				344
Total current assets			31,654				29,046
Property, plant and equipment, net			20,905				20,130
Operating lease right-of-use asset			135				216
Goodwill			11,704				11,704
Intangible assets, net			7,573				7,978
Other assets			1,800				1,800
Total assets		$	73,771			$	70,874
Current liabilities
Current portion of note payable		$	1,000			$	1,000
Accounts payable			9,119				6,614
Accrued expenses			4,378				3,724
Accrued income taxes			-				725
Total current liabilities			14,497				12,063
Line of credit			2,777				2,777
Note payable			2,725				3,470
Operating lease liabilities			74				85
Deferred income taxes, net			3,201				3,201
Other long-term liabilities			-				147
Total liabilities			23,274				21,743
Commitments and contingencies			-				-
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, no par value; 2,500 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021			-				-
Common stock, no par value; 40,000 shares authorized; 17,274 shares issued; 15,495 and 15,435 outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively			6,509				6,509
Paid-in capital			3,271				2,552
Treasury stock, at cost			(12,997)				(13,436)
Retained earnings			53,714				53,506
Total stockholders' equity			50,497				49,131
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	73,771			$	70,874
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share data)
		Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine months Ended September 30,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Net sales		$	38,140			$	29,553			$	105,730			$	88,091
Cost of goods sold			29,962				21,915				85,032				63,273
Depreciation expense			590				645				1,833				2,099
Total cost of goods sold			30,552				22,560				86,865				65,372
Gross profit			7,588				6,993				18,865				22,719
Selling expenses			2,843				2,722				8,527				8,510
General and administrative			3,415				3,194				9,546				8,702
Amortization expense			135				33				405				33
Total operating expenses			6,393				5,949				18,478				17,245
Income from operations			1,195				1,044				387				5,474
Other income (expense):
Interest expense			(77)				(30)				(171)				(72)
Gain on investments			-				-				-				2
Loss on sale of property and equipment			-				(5)				-				(88)
Other (expense) income, net			(5)				(2)				(10)				(61)
Total other income (expense)			(82)				(37)				(181)				(219)
Income before provision (benefit) for income taxes			1,113				1,007				206				5,255
Provision (benefit) for income taxes			130				527				(2)				1,851
Net income		$	983			$	480			$	208			$	3,404
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic		$	0.06			$	0.03			$	0.01			$	0.22
Diluted		$	0.06			$	0.03			$	0.01			$	0.22
Weighted average common shares:
Basic			15,490				15,473				15,462				15,572
Diluted			15,848				15,651				15,759				15,712

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (In thousands)
		Nine months ended September 30,
		2022				2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	208			$	3,404
Adjustments to reconcile net income to operating cash flow:
Depreciation and amortization			2,238				2,132
Non-cash interest expense			5				9
Non-cash rent expense			-				1
Bad debt expense			-				6
Deferred revenue			(23)				(23)
Stock-based compensation			755				608
Loss on sale of property and equipment			-				88
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Accounts receivable			(1,576)				(1,832)
Inventories			(907)				(642)
Refundable income taxes			(309)				(384)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			(115)				(152)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Accounts payable			3,085				1,695
Accrued expenses			1,003				1,498
Accrued income taxes			(725)				(553)
Net cash provided by operating activities			3,639				5,855
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment			(2,609)				(1,685)
Acquisition, net of cash acquired			(580)				(5,220)
Net cash used in investing activities			(3,189)				(6,905)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Purchase of treasury stock			-				(1,583)
Payment of deferred financing cost			-				(25)
Proceeds from note payable			-				5,000
Repayment of note payable			(750)				(250)
Net cash used in financing activities			(750)				3,142
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents			(300)				2,092
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period			9,233				7,926
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period		$	8,933			$	10,018
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for income taxes, net		$	640			$	2,788
Cash paid for interest		$	158			$	60
Non-cash investing activities
Increase (decrease) in right-of-use assets and operating lease obligations		$	19			$	45

SOURCE Lifeway Foods, Inc.