SEC FORM 4

SEC FORM 4SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

SCHER JASON SCOTT

(Last)

(First)

(Middle)

C/O LIFEWAY FOODS, INC.

6431 OAKTON STREET

(Street)

MORTON GROVE

ILLINOIS

60053

(City)

(State)

(Zip)

UNITED STATES

(Country)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Lifeway Foods, Inc. [ LWAY ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director	10% Owner
	Officer (give title below)	Other (specify below)

2a. Foreign Trading Symbol

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
08/31/2026

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock, no par value								1	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)		10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Restricted Stock Units	⁽¹⁾							⁽²⁾	⁽²⁾	Common Stock	2,512		2,512	D
Restricted Stock Units	⁽¹⁾	08/31/2026		M			1,550	⁽³⁾	⁽³⁾	Common Stock	1,550	⁽¹⁾	0	D
Restricted Stock Units	⁽¹⁾							⁽⁴⁾	⁽⁴⁾	Common Stock	1,354		1,354	D
Restricted Stock Units	⁽¹⁾							⁽⁵⁾	⁽⁵⁾	Common Stock	2,038		2,038	D
Phantom Stock	⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾	08/31/2026		M		1,550		⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾	⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾	Common Stock	1,550	⁽⁶⁾⁽⁷⁾	84,608	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. Each restricted stock unit ("RSU") represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock.

2. The RSUs vest on December 30, 2026 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.

3. The RSUs vested on August 31, 2026.

4. The RSUs vest on July 1, 2027, contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on such vesting date.

5. The RSUs vest on July 1, 2027 contingent on the Reporting Person's continued service as a Director on each applicable vesting date.

6. Each share of phantom stock represents a right to receive one share of common stock. The phantom stock becomes payable on the date that the Reporting Person no longer serves as a director of the Company.

7. In connection with the vesting on August 31, 2026 of RSUs previously granted to the Reporting Person, the Reporting Person's receipt of 1,550 shares of common stock was deferred resulting in the Reporting Person's receipt instead of 1,550 shares of phantom stock pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan. The Reporting Person is therefore reporting the disposition of 1,550 RSUs in exchange for an equal number of shares of phantom stock.

	/s/ Eric Hanson, as attorney-in-fact	09/02/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
* Form 4: SEC 1474 (03-26)