Bloomberg Businessweek Lifeway Foods Expands Reach With Walmart Pact
Dec 11, 2025
Julie Smolyansky, the dynamic CEO of Lifeway Foods, dives into the company's impressive growth trajectory and plans for expansion. She discusses the buzz around their kefir as consumer interest skyrockets for gut-friendly foods. The conversation reveals how Lifeway's cheese products are set to hit 2,000 Walmart stores, promising major retail visibility. Julie also touches on strategic insights regarding Danone's investment and her commitment to the company's future, ensuring Lifeway remains a leader in healthy, innovative dairy products.
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Demand For Functional, High-Quality Protein
- Lifeway is benefiting from rising demand for functional, gut-healthy, high-quality protein foods.
- Julie Smolyansky says consumers are researching protein quality and choosing bioavailable dairy products like kefir.
GLP-1s Raise Protein Necessity
- GLP-1 use is changing nutritional needs and driving demand for bioavailable protein.
- Smolyansky notes high-protein intake is critical to prevent muscle loss for people using GLP-1s.
Farmer Cheese's Cultural Origin
- Farmer cheese is Lifeway's second-biggest product and has cultural roots in Eastern Europe.
- Julie Smolyansky describes it as a spreadable tvarug used in sweet and savory recipes, including her personal chip-and-caviar pick.