MORTON GROVE, Ill., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lifeway Foods, Inc., (Nasdaq: LWAY), makers of the nutritious, probiotic dairy beverage called kefir, announced today for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, total sales increased 26% to approximately $14,481,000 from $11,523,000 during the same period a year ago. This increase is primarily attributable to increased sales and awareness of Lifeway's flagship line, Kefir, as well as ProBugs(TM) Organic Kefir for kids. Additionally, these results include revenues from its February 6, 2009 acquisition of Fresh Made Dairy. Included in the total group sales was $2,152,730 of revenue related to this acquisition and recorded from the period of February 7, 2009 to March 31, 2009.

Cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales was approximately 58% during the second quarter 2009, compared to about 65% during the same period in 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to the decreased cost of conventional milk, our largest raw material, and the cost of transportation and other petroleum based production supplies. Gross profit increased approximately 59% during the second quarter of 2009, when compared with the same period in 2008.

Operating expenses as a percentage of sales were approximately 21% during the second quarter 2009, compared to about 20% during the same period in 2008. This increase is primarily attributable to the increase in professional fees related to the February 6, 2009 acquisition of Fresh Made Dairy and a 111% in amortization expense, a non cash expense, also related to the Fresh Made acquisition. Many of the acquisition related professional fees are non recurring expenses.

Total operating income increased by $1,608,486, (approximately 104%) to $3,154,647 during the second quarter 2009, from $1,546,161 during the same period in 2008.

Total net income was $2,531,905 or $.15 per share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, compared with $911,718 or $.05 per share in the same period in 2008. This represents a 178% increase in net income from the second quarter 2009 when compared to the same period in 2008. Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,695,393 during the three months ended March 31, 2009, which is an increase of $770,525 when compared to the same period in 2008.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $3,390,715 during the six months ended June 30, 2009, which is an increase of $762,708 when compared to the same period in 2008.

Edward Smolyansky, CFO commented, "We are extremely pleased at our record second quarter 2009 results. From top to bottom this was our best quarter in our company's history. We were aided by low raw material costs and low conventional milk prices, which remained at second quarter lows during July and August."

Smolyansky added, "In addition to lower input costs, the acquisition in February 2009 of Fresh Made Dairy also added to our record quarter. We continue to generate very strong cash flows from this acquisition, and we are aggressively paying down our debt and strengthening our balance sheet. During the first seven months of 2009, we have paid down approximately $3 million in debt taken out to finance the acquisition as well as other current and long term liabilities."

About Lifeway Foods

Lifeway, recently named Fortune Small Business' 97th Fastest Growing Small Business, and one of only 4 companies to ever be named to the list four straight years in a row, is America's leading supplier of the cultured dairy product known as kefir, and now America's only supplier of Organic Kefir. Lifeway Kefir is a dairy beverage that contains Lifeway's exclusive 10 Live and Active probiotic cultures. While most regular yogurt only contains two or three of these "friendly" cultures, Lifeway kefir products offer more nutritional benefits. Lifeway offers 12 different flavors of its Kefir beverage, Organic Kefir and SoyTreat (a soy based kefir). Lifeway recently introduced a series of innovative new products such as pomegranate kefir, Greek-style kefir, a children's line of organic kefir products called ProBugs (TM) in a no-spill pouch in kid-friendly flavors like Orange Creamy Crawler and Sublime Slime Lime, and a line of organic whole milk kefir. Lifeway also produces a line of products marketed in US Hispanic communities, called La Fruta, Drinkable Yogurt (yogurt drinks distinct from kefir). In addition to its line of Kefir products, the company produces a variety of cheese products and recently introduced a line of organic pudding called It's Pudding!

Live conference calls will now be on an annual basis to discuss fiscal full year results. For more information, contact Lifeway Foods, Inc. at (847) 967-1010 or e-mail at info@lifeway.net and visit http://www.lifeway.net .

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.

                                 (Unaudited)             (Unaudited)
                             Three Months Ended         Six Months Ended
                                   June 30,                  June 30,
                             2009           2008         2009         2008

    Sales                $14,479,429   $11,523,393  $28,215,509  $22,645,631

    Cost of goods sold     7,978,110     7,455,696   16,102,691   14,897,779
    Depreciation expense     353,654       195,128      570,428      384,552

    Total cost of goods
     sold                  8,331,764     7,650,824   16,673,119   15,282,331

    Gross profit           6,147,665     3,872,569   11,542,390    7,363,300

    Selling Expenses       1,386,815     1,154,126    2,694,740    2,213,292
    General and
     Administrative        1,437,505     1,092,420    2,810,103    2,077,466
    Amortization expense     168,698        79,862      339,388      159,723

    Total Operating
     Expenses              2,993,018     2,326,408    5,844,231    4,450,481

    Income from
     operations            3,154,647     1,546,161    5,698,159    2,912,819

    Other income (expense):
      Interest and dividend
       income                 48,506        62,862      110,717      165,995
      Rental Income           11,947        11,647       21,294       23,294
      Interest expense      (110,090)      (68,969)    (264,473)    (154,924)
      Impairment of
       marketable
       securities                ---           ---          ---          ---
      Loss on Disposition
       of Equipment           (2,825)          ---       (2,825)         ---
      Gain (loss) on sale of
       marketable securities,
       net                    53,638       (87,174)     (96,152)     (36,145)
      Total other income
       (Expense)               1,176       (81,634)    (231,439)      (1,780)

    Income before provision
     for income taxes      3,155,823     1,464,527    5,466,720    2,911,039

    Provision for income
     taxes                   623,918       552,809    1,387,350    1,110,715

    Net income            $2,531,905      $911,718   $4,079,370   $1,800,324

    Basic and diluted
     earnings per
     common share               0.15          0.05         0.24         0.11

SOURCE Lifeway Foods, Inc.