-- Q2 Sales Up 53% -- Q2 Gross Profit Up 48%; Operating Income Up 89% -- Total Q2 EPS Doubles to $.08 in 2007 from $.04 in 2006
MORTON GROVE, Ill., Aug. 14, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Lifeway Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq:LWAY), makers of a nutritious, probiotic dairy beverage called kefir, announced today for the second quarter ended June 30, 2007, total consolidated sales increased 53% to approximately $9,715,000 from $6,367,000 during the same period a year ago. This increase in sales was driven by another strong sales increase of Lifeway's kefir line of 30% and the remainder coming from the sales of the Helios kefir line and Pride of Main Street's milk line.
Second quarter 2007 gross profit increased 48% to $3,829,076 from $2,579,820 during the same period a year ago. Gross margins were 40% in the second quarter 2007. Second quarter operating income increased 89% to $1,761,287 from $930,154 during the same period a year ago. Operating margins were 18% in the second quarter 2007 compared with 15% in the second quarter 2006. Net income rose 86% to $1,396,026 in the second quarter 2007, from $750,044 during the same period a year ago. Earnings per share increased to $.08 per share for the second quarter 2007, up 100% from $.04 per share for the same three-month period in 2007.
For the six months ended June 30, 2007, total consolidated sales increased 51% to approximately $18,737,500 from $12,370,000 during the same period a year ago. This increase in sales was driven by another strong sales increase of Lifeway's kefir line of 29% and the remainder coming from the sales of the Helios kefir line and Pride of Main Street's milk line.
For the six months ended June 30, 2007 gross profit increased 40% to $7,401,495 from $5,277,199 during the same period a year ago. Gross margins were 40% in the first six months of 2007. For the six months ended June 30, 2007 operating income increased 53% to $3,562,777 from 2,336,525 during the same period a year ago. Net income rose 54% to $2,531,357 in the first six months of 2007, from $1,644,702 during the same period a year ago, while earnings per share increased to $.15 per share for 2007, from $.10 per share for the same six-month period in 2006.
Edward Smolyansky, CFO commented, "We are extremely proud of our second quarter and first half 2007 results, one of the best periods we have ever had from top to bottom. Despite historically high conventional milk prices, and due to organic milk prices stagnating over the last year, we continue to see benefits from leveraging our recent acquisition of the Helios Organic Kefir line into our overall operations. In addition to the Organic Helios Kefir line, our own Lifeway Organic Kefir lines continue to outpace our conventional Kefir line in growth as we focus on products such as Probugs(tm) Organic Kefir for kids."
Smolyansky added, "Going forward, we believe that our focus on Organic Kefir will help mitigate the effects of historically high conventional milk prices on costs, and we hope these milk prices are temporary."
About Lifeway Foods
Lifeway, recently named Fortune Small Business' 94th Fastest Growing Small Business, and one of only 20 companies to ever be named to the list three straight years in a row, is America's leading supplier of the cultured dairy product known as kefir, and now America's largest 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 patented 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,
---------------------- ------------------------
2007 2006 2007 2006
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Sales $9,715,262 $6,367,397 $18,737,506 $12,370,420
Cost of goods sold 5,886,186 3,787,577 11,336,011 7,093,221
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit 3,829,076 2,579,820 7,401,495 5,277,199
Selling Expenses 912,262 849,647 1,682,343 1,432,591
General and
Administrative 1,155,527 800,019 2,156,375 1,508,083
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Total Operating
Expenses 2,067,789 1,649,666 3,838,718 2,940,674
Income from
operations 1,761,287 930,154 3,562,777 2,336,525
Other income
(expense):
Interest and dividend
income 98,365 122,033 164,164 208,264
Rental Income 9,581 -- 18,181 --
Interest expense (109,283) (63,200) (218,812) (113,426)
Gain (loss) on sale
of marketable
securities, net 439,243 225,292 453,380 188,414
Gain on marketable
securities
classified as
trading 343 2,549 951 3,061
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Total other income
(Expense) 438,249 286,674 417,864 286,313
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Income before
provision for income
taxes 2,199,536 1,216,828 3,980,641 2,622,838
Provision for income
taxes 803,510 466,784 1,449,284 978,136
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $1,396,026 $ 750,044 $ 2,531,357 $ 1,644,702
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Basic and diluted
earnings per common
share 0.08 0.04 0.15 0.10
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Weighted average
number of shares
outstanding 16,875,905 16,799,536 16,885,586 16,795,473
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