Today marks 30 years of Lifeway Foods! Follow along the timeline as we travel through the past with photos, articles, and videos. It’s been a wild ride, but we have so much planned for the upcoming year! And we couldn’t have made it without the support of our Lifeway customers. So, Thank You! Be sure to stay tuned for all of the latest Lifeway developments, events, new products, and more!
2016
ProBugs Commercial
Cynthia Rowley Collaboration
2015
First National TV Commercial
New Packaging Launch
Lifeway visits Nasdaq
Golden Globes
2014
Lollapalooza/Kidzapalooza
The Launching of #MotherCulture
More on #MotherCulture here.
2013
How an Ancient Beverage Found Fame on Social Media
An awesome 2013 article on Mashable by Fran Berkman:
Its mysterious origin dates back thousands of years. Lore of the fermented dairy drink’s seemingly magical health benefits endured through the generations by word-of-mouth. Then, social media raised it to royalty.
Today, a company called Lifeway Foods makes close to $100 million annually selling kefir, a probiotic beverage often compared to yogurt.
“It took 2,000 years to bring this product into the mainstream through word-of-mouth,” Lifeway’s CEO Julie Smolyansky tells Mashable. “Social just multiplies that so much, so rapidly.”
Smolyansky’s parents founded the Chicago-based company in 1986. When her father died in 2002, she took over as CEO at just 27 years old. According to Smolyansky, many close family friends believed Lifeway would not endure with her at the helm.
Defying both those expectations amidst a recession that touched nearly every part of the U.S. economy, Lifeway’s sales have increased from $12 million to $80 million since 2002. At a time when unemployment became a national issue, somehow a company selling an obscure yogurt drink grew from 70 to more than 300 employees.
Through good timing and by opportunistically embracing technology, Lifeway has been able to reach increasingly large audiences with its salubrious product and unique story.
2012
The Story of Lifeway Foods
Every Mother Counts
In 2012, Lifeway ran the Every Mother Counts Sweepstakes. We redesigned our Blueberry bottle to promote the contest…
Every Mother Counts is an advocacy and mobilization campaign founded by Christy Turlington Burns to increase education and support for maternal mortality reduction globally.
Lifeway gave over 200 prizes to some lucky winners, but the grand prize was a real treat. It included an all-expense paid trip for two to Chicago on April 16 to meet global maternal health advocate and founder of EMC, Christy Turlington Burns. Additional highlights from the grand prize included:
- VIP viewing of Turlington Burns’ powerful new documentary “No Woman, No Cry.” The film shares stories of at-risk pregnant women and their caregivers as they face critical junctures in their pregnancies in four parts of the world.
- Two-night stay at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago hotel.
- Special gift bag with prizes.
- $500 cash for expenses.
2011
Lifeway 25th Anniversary Tour Video:
Lifeway visits Nasdaq
25th Anniversary Packaging
2009
Past Product Adventures
Kefir Granola Bar – Chocolate Crisp
When we made kefir granola bars.
It’s Pudding!
When we made organic kefir pudding.
Lifeway Holiday Party
2008
Blast from the Past
ESPY Style Studio
2007
Lifeway Holiday Party
2006
Lifeway on Wall Street!
Early ProBugs Design
Chicago Marathon
2004
2002
Julie Smolyansky Becomes Lifeway’s CEO
Click to enlarge.
Michael Smolyansky Obituary
Click to enlarge.
1999
Mid 90s
Wild Chicago: Kefir Madness
1989
Jane Fonda + Her Workout Video
Put that protein to use:
1986
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Release: June 17th
Another Chicago legend was born.
Celebrate Ferris’s 30th birthday at this weekend’s Ferris Fest.
Lifeway was Born: May 16th
Lifeway was born in Chicago!