Lifeway Foods to Donate Portion of Sales to Haitian Relief Efforts
January 26 2010 - 1:14PM
PR Newswire (US)
5% of all Kefir Sales in February will Support UNICEF's Relief
Efforts in Earthquake Ravaged Nation MORTON GROVE, Ill., Jan. 26
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lifeway Foods, Inc., (NASDAQ:LWAY),
makers of a nutritious, probiotic dairy beverage called Kefir,
announced today that it will donate 5% of the proceeds from all
Lifeway and Helios brand Kefir and ProBugs product sales in the
United States generated through shipments during the month of
February to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of Haitian relief
efforts to provide life-saving supplies of food, water, medical
supplies and shelter for survivors of this month's devastating
earthquake. From February 1 through February 28, 2010, specially
marked Kefir bottles will feature a tag bearing the U.S. Fund for
UNICEF logo to let shoppers know that the product they're
purchasing supports the relief effort. All ProBugs and Kefir
products are included, in every variety including: Lowfat, Nonfat,
Organic Low Fat and Whole Milk, Helios, Greek Style and Original.
"As a mother, my heart breaks for all of the children who are
suffering from injuries, the loss of their parents or loved ones,
their home--it's devastating," said Julie Smolyansky, CEO and
president of Lifeway. "We just had to do something to help. UNICEF
is known worldwide for its humanitarian efforts to support children
in crisis and this is an ideal way for us to contribute to the
relief efforts." Lifeway will promote the program through its
newsletter, blog posts, Facebook Fan page and Twitter. In addition,
its webpage at http://www.kefir.com/ will feature a special link to
UNICEF's Haitian Relief donation site that will allow visitors to
donate directly to the cause. Lifeway Foods recorded approximately
$58 million in revenues during 2009, an increase of about $13.6
million or 31% over 2008 revenues. Lifeway Kefir is available in
most health food and retail stores around the country, including
Whole Foods Market, Supervalu, Kroger, Safeway, Publix and select
7-Eleven convenience stores. For more information, visit
http://www.unicefusa.org/. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF does not
endorse any brand or product. No portion of the purchase price is
tax-deductible. For more information, visit http://www.kefir.com/.
About Lifeway Foods Lifeway Foods, Inc., recently named one of
Fortune Small Business' Fastest Growing Companies for the 4th
consecutive year, is America's leading supplier of the cultured
dairy product known as Kefir, and America's sole supplier of
Organic Kefir. Lifeway Kefir is a dairy beverage that contains 10
exclusive live and active probiotic cultures. While most regular
yogurt contains only two or three of these "friendly" cultures,
Lifeway Kefir products offer even more nutritional benefits.
Lifeway produces 12 different flavors of its drinkable Kefir and
Organic Kefir beverage, and recently introduced a series of
innovative new products such as a children's line of Organic Kefir
products called ProBugs (TM) with a no-spill pouch and kid-friendly
flavors like Orange Creamy Crawler, Goo Berry Pie, and Sublime
Slime Lime. In addition to its line of Kefir products, the company
produces a variety of probiotic cheese products, and a line of
products marketed in US Hispanic communities called La Fruta
Drinkable Yogurt (yogurt drinks distinct from Kefir). 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. About
UNICEF UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other
humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150
countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water,
nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for
UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and
education in the United States. UNICEF is at the forefront of
efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been
substantial progress--the annual number of under-five deaths
dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still,
24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission
is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving
children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more
information, visit http://www.unicefusa.org/. MEDIA CONTACT: Erin
O'Connor SS|PR (847) 415-9320 DATASOURCE: Lifeway Foods, Inc.
CONTACT: Erin O'Connor of SS|PR, +1-847-415-9320, , for Lifeway
Foods, Inc. Web Site: http://www.kefir.com/
http://www.unicefusa.org/
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