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Julie Smolyansky

@juliesmolyansky

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Mom, survivor, CEO @lifewaykefir. Author #TheKefirCookbook Cofounder @getburd & @test400korg. Speaker, EP @october8thefilm “The Hunting Ground”
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As of late… At Lifeway we’re just getting started. We are the 95% category leader of a category my dad created and we’ve scaled. Lifeway is the number one global kefir brand and experiencing double-digit growth, eclipsing much of the rest of the dairy and food industry. We are not a distressed company, quite opposite: zero debt, cash in the bank, 20 consecutive growth quarters (the last 5 alone were record breaking) Five year shareholder return of 1200%, and gross profit increased 92%. We have a long runway and playbook on how to keep scaling as we have for 38 years. Thank you having me on @bloomberg to shine a light on all the amazing things happening at @lifewaykefir. Friends, thank you for all your support over the years - I love your guts - could not have gotten here without your loyalty. We didn’t come this far to only go this far. Now would be a great time to show your support again in all the ways. 💪 full clip in bio #lifewayhasguts by @juliesmolyansky
💙 Heritage is our foundation. From my great-grandmothers in the Caucasus Mountains to your table, kefir carries generations of survival, wellness, and healing. Our authenticity is our superpower. Today, I’m humbled to lead @LifewayKefir and our team as we share this original superfood with the world, unwavering in our mission. #discoverlifeway #kefir #lifewaykefir #awayoflife #probiotic #guthealth #ukraine #slavic #slavicfood #slavicgirl #russian by @juliesmolyansky
They call it unhinged. I called it building an iconic $200M+ brand. From taking over a public company at 27 after my founder father suddenly died to facing proxy and board room challenges to industry challenges, to betting on kefir before anyone could pronounce it… to raising 2 kids while running it all (sometimes on 2 hours of sleep) — these are the wild, messy, relentless moves that built @lifewaykefir into what it is today. Unhinged? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely. 🔥 Sometimes the “crazy” path is the only one that changes the game. Thank you for the inspiration @sarablakely 👑 by @juliesmolyansky
Lifeway has been making kefir outside Chicago for 40 years, and in year 40 it sold more of it than ever. Here's what's in the bottle. Lactose intolerant? Most of the lactose is gone. Lactose is the sugar in milk that upsets some stomachs, and as kefir ferments the good bacteria eat almost all of it. @lifewaykefir puts it at up to 99% gone and calls its kefir lactose intolerance friendly. Everyone reacts differently, and it's still milk, so it isn't for a milk allergy. How much protein? Ten grams in a cup, more than a large egg, with no added sugar. Is it a fad? Not by the numbers. In 2026 Lifeway's two biggest quarters on record came back to back, first-half sales rose 30% by its own count, and Fortune ranked it No. 45 on its list of the 100 fastest-growing companies. Michael Smolyansky made the first batches in the family's basement in 1986. His daughter @juliesmolyansky has run the company since 2002. The full feature, with every source, is at the link in bio. #LifewayLovesYourGuts #kefir #guthealth #lactoseintolerant #fermentedfoods by @juliesmolyansky
Feeling nostalgic for the Halloween’s past. My oldest baby is away at college and my little baby is too old to trick or treat. Feeling so lucky to have had these years. I loved every single second of this. Happy Halloween! 🥺🎃👻 by @juliesmolyansky
In this episode of the Happy Go Lifestyle Podcast, I’m joined by @juliesmolyansky CEO of the publicly traded company @lifewaykefir, who shares the daily habits that help her manage stress because even the busiest CEOs need to prioritize their well-being. Listen to the full episode for an inside look at what it takes to lead a successful company as a female CEO, navigate the pressures of leadership, and build a career without sacrificing your well-being. 🎧 Hit the link in bio to listen to the full episode + subscribe to the Happy Go Lifestyle Podcast ✨ #WomenEmpowerment #WomenInBusiness #WomenSupportingWomen #womeninspiringwomen by @juliesmolyansky
This could have been an entire book but I wrote a VERY long substack instead loaded with tons of throwback photos. On my most recent substack, “A Cultured Life,” I share how I became an accidental runner back in 2001, and what 25 years of running long distance, 14 marathons and earning my 6 star World Major medal has taught me. I dive into new emerging research around fermented dairy and the gut-muscular skeletal axis. The bottom line is, NO not all protein impacts your muscles/skeletal structure the same, fermented dairy like Lifeway Kefir is superior- obvi. So drink up. No spoon required. Plus announcing a new Lifeway Culture Run/Walk club coming to a town near you. My DM’s are open if you want to join. Taking applications for passionate ambassadors to lead groups as well as members who want to join especially as it gets darker earlier. All paces and abilities welcome. This and more in my substack, A Cultured Life. (Link in Bio) Congratulations to everyone who finished the Chicago Marathon and good luck to everyone running New York this coming weekend (or any other marathon.) You are part of the 1% of crazy people in the world who get excited to run 26.2 miles. Enjoy your carb loading & protein-maxing. You are an absolute inspiration and we 💙 your guts. by @juliesmolyansky
So proud of us 🙌 thank you @fortunemag . We’ve been named to Fortune’s prestigious 2026 list of the 100 Fastest-Growing Companies, ranking No. 45 nationwide 💪💙 This achievement belongs to our entire Lifeway family, our employees, customers, retail partners, shareholders, and the millions of consumers who have embraced Lifeway kefir and Lifeway Farmer Cheese as part of their daily wellness routines. What began as a family business built around the transformative power of fermented foods has grown into a nationally recognized leader in the health and wellness industry. I am honored to lead us for the last 25 years. This is more than just a year of great work, this is 40 years of dedication, authenticity, relentless pursuit, resilience and hardworking teams. I am so damn proud of us I am actually crying right now. 😭 thank you to everyone who has been a part of our story. We’re just getting started. 🙏 link in bio by @juliesmolyansky
40 años después, seguimos compartiendo el mismo cariño, la misma receta original y una tradición que hoy también forma parte de miles de hogares. Gracias por ser parte de nuestra historia. 🥹 ¿Hace cuánto que Lifeway Kéfir forma parte de tu vida? by @juliesmolyansky
Join us this Friday to hear from incredible speakers like @juliesmolyansky CEO of @lifewaykefir and so many more! Our League of Originals Summit in LA is an all day event with food, brand activations, interactive masterclasses and a community of consumer founders and operators to share a room with the brands they love most. Comment SUMMIT to grab your last minute ticket! #founder #brandevent #brandmarketing by @juliesmolyansky
Dear little Yulichka, We made it. You and me together. All your dreams came true. Some chapters broke your heart, but they showed you how strong you are. It wasn’t easy but you were never alone. Through it all I was with you and I protected you. Don’t worry so much, it all worked out. It’s a privilege to be you. You’re going to love who you become. You’re going to find joy in creating and just wait until you see everything you build. I am in awe of you. Your confidence, your passion, your fight, how hard you worked and never gave up, even when you wanted to stop, you took a chance and kept going even when the world knocked you down, how you held your head up, how you love and laugh…you are amazing beyond my wildest dreams. We made it. I’m so proud of us and I love you. Love, Adult Julie by @juliesmolyansky
‼️🎟️ ACL Ticket Giveaway Alert ‼️ Join us at Austin Kiddie Limits presented by @lifewaykefir at Austin City Limits @acltv this weekend Oct 3-4 & Oct 9-11. I’m giving away wristbands to some lucky folks. For a chance to win two wristbands for single day entry to Austin City Limits subscribe to my substack, A Cultured Life, (link in bio), like and tag someone you want to dance with and share this post. In my latest substack, A Cultured Life, I write about what music festivals like Austin City Limits and @lollapalooza mean to me and to the team at Lifeway, the role we play in community, plus I share my own version of Hailey Bieber’s viral meatballs. Winner will be selected at random by the end of the week. This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by Instagram or Substack and is only open to US Residents who will be able to attend Austin City Limits in Austin. Transportation not provided. by @juliesmolyansky

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