Lifeway Foods - The Immigrant Dream That Built a $200M Wellness Brand

In this episode, I had the honor of sitting down with Julie Smolyansky, President, CEO, and Chairwoman of Lifeway Foods, a pioneering brand behind the kefir movement in the U.S.

We dive deep into Julie’s incredible family story, from escaping the Soviet Union with just $116 to building a nearly $200M company that now owns 95% of the global kefir category. Julie shares how her father’s dream, her mother's entrepreneurial spirit, and her own grit helped turn a probiotic-rich dairy drink into a wellness staple for millions.

We also discuss the science behind kefir, staying innovative while running a public company, and how Julie is standing strong in the face of a hostile takeover attempt. This isn’t just a conversation about dairy; it’s about resilience, passion, legacy, and the powerful connection between gut health and life.

Key Moments in This Episode:

* 🇺🇸 Julie’s immigrant journey—from fleeing the Soviet Union to becoming a public company CEO at 27

* 🥛 Why kefir is a probiotic powerhouse—and how it supports digestion, immunity, and mental health

* 🔬 The science behind dairy-based probiotics and how they outperform supplements

* 💪 The legacy of resilience and why Julie says, “you have to learn how to take a punch”

* 🚫 How she’s fighting off a hostile takeover and defending the brand her father built

Join me, Ramon Vela, in listening to this powerful and inspiring founder story where food meets science, heritage fuels innovation, and fighting for what matters takes center stage. 

For more on Lifeway, visit:  https://lifewaykefir.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave The Story of a Brand Show a rating and review. 

Plus, don’t forget to follow us on Apple and Spotify. 

Your support helps us bring you more content like this!

*

Today’s Sponsors:

Compass Rose Ventures - Advisor for CPG Brands: https://compassroseventures.com/contact/

Compass Rose Ventures can help your CPG brand increase customer lifetime value, expand into the US market, create an omnipresent omnichannel footprint, optimize customer journeys, build brand communities, and more. Visit the link above to learn more. 

Augmentum Media - Influencer Marketing for Consumer Brands: https://www.augmentum-media.com/story

What secret do fast-growing Health and Wellness brands like Xtendlife, Nourished, and Hunter & Gather share? They all outsource their influencer marketing to the experts at Augmentum. Augmentum is offering "The Story of a Brand Show" listeners a 30-minute consulting session AND a personalized influencer strategy plan built by their experts for you to implement either with them or in-house. Visit the link above to learn more.