Michael Smolyansky, president and chief executive officer of Lifeway Foods, has died following a heart attack.

Smolyansky died on Sunday, Steve Simon, a spokesman for the Morton Grove, Illinois-based company said. Smolyansky#;s daughter Julie Smolyanksy will assume the role of president, said Simon.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Nasdaq trading in stock in Lifeway was halted yesterday [Monday] after falling 27% or US$1.90 to US$5.10 on the news.

Lifeway Foods is the maker of a yoghurt-like beverage known as Kefir.

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact