Lifeway Foods (LWAY) 8-K Results of Operations and Financial Condition

EXHIBIT 99.1

Lifeway Foods Announces Results for the Third Quarter of 2014

Third Quarter Net Sales Increase 27% to $30.1 Million

Morton Grove, IL — November 10, 2014 — Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), a leading supplier of cultured dairy products known as kefir and organic kefir, today announced results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

“Our strong double digit net sales growth in the third quarter demonstrates the continued demand for our nutritious probiotic kefir products,” said Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, Inc. “Greater brand awareness, increased distribution, and successful new product innovation helped us deliver another quarter of profitability despite continued pressure from increased milk prices. We are committed to executing on our long-term growth strategy and believe there are compelling opportunities ahead as we expand with new and existing customers.”

Third Quarter Results

Total consolidated net sales increased 27%, or $6.3 million, to $30.1 million during the three-month period ended September 30, 2014 from $24.0 million during the same three-month period in 2013.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2014 was $7.4 million compared to $6.9 million in the third quarter of the prior year. The Company's gross profit margin decreased to 25% in the third quarter of 2014 versus 29% in the third quarter of 2013. The decrease was primarily attributable to an approximate 20% increase in the cost of milk, the Company’s largest raw material, compared to the same period last year. In addition, gross profit for the quarter was impacted by an increase in depreciation expense of $0.6 million related to a true-up on Starfruit leasehold improvements and expense associated with assets placed in service at the Lifeway Wisconsin location.

In the third quarter, general and administrative expenses increased to $2.6 million from $1.7 million the prior year. This increase is primarily due to start up costs associated with the purchase of the Golden Guernsey dairy plant.

Total operating expenses increased 20% or $1.0 million to $5.6 million during the third quarter of 2014, from $4.7 million during the same period in 2013. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in general and administrative expenses.

Total operating income was $1.8 million during the third quarter of 2014, from $2.2 million during the same period in 2013.  The slight decrease in operating income is related to the decrease in gross profit and increased operating expenses.

The Company’s third quarter 2014 effective tax rate was 43% compared to 29% in the same period last year. The company expects the full year tax rate for fiscal 2014 to be comparable to the full year tax rate for fiscal 2013.

Total net income was $1.0 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the three-month period ended September 30, 2014 compared to $1.7 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the same period in 2013.

Nine Month Results

Total consolidated net sales increased by $17.6 million, or approximately 25%, to $88.8 million during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 from $71.3 million during the same nine-month period in 2013. 

Gross profit for the first nine-months of 2014 decreased to $22.0 million, compared to $22.8 million in the same period in the prior year. The Company's gross profit margin was 25% in the first nine-months of 2014 compared to 32% in the same period last year.

Total net income was $2.8 million, or $0.17 per share, for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2014 compared to $5.5 million, or $0.33 per share, in the same period in 2013.

Balance Sheet/Cash Flow Highlights

The Company had $2.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2014 compared to $1.2 million at September 30, 2013. This increase is primarily due to the acquisition of the Golden Guernsey dairy plant in the second quarter of 2013. Total stockholder’s equity was $45.7 million as of September 30, 2014, which is an increase of $2.3 million when compared to September 30, 2013.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss these results with additional comments and details on Monday, November 10, 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 November 24, 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

646.277.1228

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

September 30, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2013

	September 30,						December 31,
	2014			2013			2013
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,795,429		$	1,240,730		$	3,306,608
Investments		3,057,214			2,506,463			2,516,380
Certificates of deposits in financial institutions		—			115,373			15,373
Inventories		7,134,857			8,382,287			6,899,008
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts ($1,300,000 and $1,350,000 and $1,050,000)		11,803,145			11,313,652			10,444,839
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		54,944			88,629			128,323
Other receivables		26,720			89,100			103,272
Deferred income taxes		360,765			394,277			322,071
Refundable income taxes		842,425			423,242			1,014,947
Total current assets		26,075,499			24,553,753			24,750,821
Property and equipment, net		21,874,520			21,637,492			20,824,448
Intangible assets
Goodwill		14,068,091			14,068,091			14,068,091
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $5,005,117, $4,376,640 and $4,468,359 at September 30, 2014 and 2013 and at December 31, 2013, respectively		3,238,683			3,929,360			3,750,441
Total intangible assets		17,306,774			17,997,451			17,818,532
Other Assets
Long-term accounts receivable, net of current portion		270,599			280,000			280,000
Total assets	$	65,527,392		$	64,468,696		$	63,673,801
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current maturities of notes payable	$	877,038		$	878,088		$	875,002
Accounts payable		7,318,512			5,429,988			6,723,179
Accrued expenses		1,243,876			1,323,213			1,284,060
Accrued income taxes		—			1,292,762			---
Total current liabilities		9,439,426			8,924,051			8,882,241
Notes payable		8,339,282			9,214,853			8,999,012
Deferred income taxes		2,065,221			2,917,213			2,843,426
Total liabilities		19,843,929			21,056,117			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 September 30, 2014, September 30, 2013 and 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		45,367,487			43,056,422			42,587,214
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes		( 38,125	)		2,056			7,807
Total stockholders' equity		45,683,463			43,412,579			42,949,122
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	65,527,392		$	64,468,696		$	63,673,801

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income

For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (unaudited)

	(Unaudited)												(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended												Nine Months Ended
	September 30,												September 30,
	2014						2013						2014						2013
Sales	$	32,704,435					$	26,601,341					$	97,359,630					$	80,030,021
Less: discounts and allowances		( 2,594,213	)					( 2,808,811	)					( 8,552,286	)					( 8,772,576	)
Net sales		30,110,222			30,110,222			23,792,530			23,792,530			88,807,344			88,807,344			71,257,445			71,257,445
Cost of goods sold					21,697,954						16,513,357						64,812,489						47,217,179
Depreciation expense					1,010,966						410,797						2,022,204						1,226,629
Total cost of goods sold					22,708,920						16,924,154						66,834,693						48,443,808
Gross profit					7,401,302						6,868,376						21,972,651						22,813,637
Selling expenses					2,804,127						2,815,126						9,977,636						8,291,960
General and administrative					2,627,566						1,671,080						7,115,393						5,567,649
Amortization expense					178,919						178,201						536,758						533,884
Total operating expenses					5,610,612						4,664,407						17,629,787						14,393,493
Income from operations					1,790,690						2,203,969						4,342,864						8,420,144
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income					22,739						36,535						86,664						82,166
Rental income					1,201						2,231						2,900						8,889
Interest expense					( 62,084	)					( 59,887	)					( 194,377	)					( 133,610	)
Gain on sale of investments, net
reclassified from OCI					( 22,940	)					161						39,190						121,441
Gain on sale of equipment					85,077						—						8,592						—
Other Income					—						209,175						1,674						219,404
Total other income (expense)					23,993						188,215						(55,357	)					298,290
Income before provision for income taxes					1,814,683						2,392,184						4,287,507						8,718,434
Provision for income taxes					789,005						702,257						1,507,234						3,258,928
Net income				$	1,025,678					$	1,689,927					$	2,780,273					$	5,459,506
Basic and diluted earnings per common share					0.06						0.10						0.17						0.33
Weighted average number of shares outstanding					16,346,017						16,346,017						16,346,017						16,346,017
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income				$	1,025,678					$	1,689,927					$	2,780,273					$	5,459,506
Other comprehensive income
(loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on
investments (net of tax)					( 93,679	)					29,356						( 22,524	)					17,079
Less reclassification adjustment
for (gains) losses included in
net income (net of taxes)					13,702						( 91	)					(23,408	)					( 68,614	)
Comprehensive income				$	945,701					$	1,719,192					$	2,734,341					$	5,407,971

LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 (Unaudited)

	(Unaudited)
	September 30,
	2014			2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	2,780,273		$	5,459,506
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		2,558,962			1,760,513
Gain on sale of investments, net		( 39,190	)		( 121,441	)
Deferred income taxes		( 783,607	)		( 231,218	)
Bad debt expense		76,049			26,819
Gain on sale of equipment		(8,592	)		(209,175	)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Accounts receivable		( 1,548,110	)		( 2,612,905	)
Other receivables		76,552			( 80,275	)
Inventories		( 235,849	)		( 2,443,101	)
Refundable income taxes		172,522			(338,414	)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		73,379			33,509
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Accounts payable		595,333			1,173,263
Accrued expenses		( 40,184	)		167,536
Income taxes payable		—			1,038,451
Net cash provided by operating activities		3,677,538			3,623,068
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments		( 2,319,742	)		( 2,877,968	)
Proceeds from sale of investments		1,736,946			2,281,792
Redemption of certificates of deposits		15,000			334,627
Purchases of property and equipment		( 3,052,303	)		( 8,205,669	)
Proceeds from sale of equipment		89,076			537,500
Net cash used in investing activities		(3,531,023	)		(7,929,718	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid		—			(1,307,861	)
Net proceeds from debt issuance		—			4,975,000
Repayment of notes payable		( 657,694	)		( 405,985	)
Net cash used in financing activities		( 657,694	)		3,261,154
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(511,179	)		(1,045,496	)
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	$	2,795,429		$	1,240,730