Kefir Pioneer Lifeway Foods Buys Assets of California Yogurt Firm

Lifeway Foods, a pioneer in bringing yogurt-style beverages to the U.S. market, has completed a deal for certain aspects of GlenOaks Farms, a California-based maker of drinkable yogurt.

The $5.8 million deal will allow Lifeway to expand the distribution of GlenOaks products beyond the western U.S., to retailers and channels that it is not yet serving. GlenOaks had about $6.9 million in gross sales last year.

“The potential R&D, transportation and operational benefits made possible by this transaction will help Lifeway grow and support our mission to make the highest quality probiotic products accessible to all and further democratize healthy eating,” Lifeway CEO Julie Smolyansky said in a statement.

Lifeway specializes in kefir, a fermented dairy drink traditionally made from kefir grains. Its acquisition of the GlenOaks assets will be its first venture into beverages explicitly marketed as probiotic.