Forty years ago, Lifeway began with one product and one vision: to bring the wellness benefits of the ancient superfood kefir to America. This year on June 18, 2026, Lifeway celebrates National Kefir Day to officially honor 40 years of an incredible history of producing America’s favorite kefir.
Before the days Lifeway Kefir could be found in grocery stores all across the country, it all started in the home of the Smolyansky family. Michael and Ludmila Smolyansky immigrated to America from the former Soviet Union and began making Lifeway Kefir in their basement in Skokie, Illinois.
The family knew there was something special about the cultured dairy superfood known as kefir, and they believed that everyone should be able to experience the benefits it could offer. Kefir had been popular in Eastern Europe for centuries, but America needed to catch up, and the Smolyansky family knew they were the just the ones who could make that happen. What started as a small dream turned into a historic American dream story, with Lifeway becoming a publicly traded company (LWAY) two years after its humble founding in 1986.
Julie Smolyansky, the daughter of Michael and Ludmila, became Lifeway’s official CEO in 2002 and has since taken Lifeway from being an everyday brand to a household name. Through Julie’s leadership, Lifeway is proud and able to be celebrating 40 years of continued success and growth with more momentum than ever before.
Last year in 2025, Lifeway had the honor of ringing the NASDAQ closing bell after celebrating yet another year of astounding growth. This year, we were honored by being one of TIME magazine’s top companies for growth of 2026 in the United States, including #2 in Food and Beverage.
Not only has Lifeway Kefir been fully embraced by consumers everywhere, but so has the concept of the importance of gut health for overall wellness. The value of high-quality, nutrient-dense foods that nourish from within is of utmost importance to us at Lifeway because we know it is for all of you. Foods with bioavailable nutrients that help you thrive, with live probiotics that support your gut, and that taste incredible while feeling like a treat to enjoy everyday are three core principles behind all the products we make.
That’s why Lifeway now offers a multitude of probiotic offerings to choose from in different sizes and flavors, including a variety of incredible tasting kefir products packed with probiotics and complete protein, plus Lifeway Farmer Cheese, our high-protein, cultured cheese with live probiotics for endless culinary creations of all kinds. And with new specialty lines of products like Lifeway Muscle Mates with creatine, protein, and kefir probiotics, plus our brand new probiotic Lifeway Kefir Butter, there are even more delicious, functional ways everyone can celebrate the Lifeway heritage whether in the kitchen or on-the-go.
So we invite all of you to join us to celebrate National Kefir Day on June 18, 2026 as we culminate 40 years of success that began with one family, one product, and one dream to bring everyday wellness into the homes of everyone. We’ll be holding a special celebration in New York City to honor National Kefir Day with a schedule of fun-filled events, but you can also celebrate with us right in your home by visiting us on our social media channels below! Stay tuned for a fun giveaway, special recipes, and an insider view to the celebration.
Most importantly, thank you for being a part of Lifeway’s story and for welcoming Lifeway Kefir into your everyday routines. This year, we toast to not only our success story, but also to all of you who have chosen to make Lifeway part of your own wellness success story.
#DiscoverLifeway at: Instagram • TikTok • Facebook • YouTube • Pinterest
#LifewayLoveYourGuts