Lifeway Foods Returns Frozen Kefir to Soft Serve

Lifeway Foods is bringing frozen kefir back to commercial soft-serve machines for restaurants and frozen yogurt shops. Its kefir is being served at froyo destinations including Drugstore, Mikono and Culture Club, with an expanding presence in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities nationwide. Made with real kefir rather than powdered frozen yogurt mix, the soft serve offers the brand’s tart and tangy taste, bioavailable protein and 50 billion CFUs. The move builds on Lifeway’s earlier frozen kefir retail and shop formats.

A Return To Soft Serve

Lifeway introduced Starfruit Café in Chicago in 2008, later rebranding the concept as The Lifeway Kefir Shop. The locations served frozen kefir, smoothies and parfaits for 13 years before closing in 2021 following the pandemic. Lifeway also brought frozen kefir to consumers nationwide through pint formats sold at retailers across the country and continues to bring The Lifeway Kefir Shop experience to life through special pop-up events.

Julie Smolyansky, President and CEO at Lifeway Foods, said:

“I'm excited to see the frozen kefir comeback at a time when people are looking for enjoyable foods made with real ingredients. Lifeway was the first to make frozen kefir, and we've continued to build on that experience from our Chicago shops to pints sold at retailers nationwide. Many frozen yogurt mixes start as a powder. Ours starts with real kefir, bringing its signature tart, tangy flavor, high-quality bioavailable protein and 50 billion CFUs to the soft-serve machine. It's a delicious, guilt-free, gut healthy and lactose intolerance-friendly option for consumers, including those looking for protein-forward foods while using GLP-1 medications.”

Foodservice Menu Opportunity

The soft serve is designed for use in commercial machines, giving restaurants and frozen yogurt concepts a way to add kefir to their menus. Lifeway is working with shops and foodservice concepts interested in bringing kefir soft serve to their menus.

Building On A Kefir Legacy

Lifeway has defined authentic kefir in the U.S. market for 40 years. Alongside its drinkable kefir portfolio, the company produces Farmer Cheese, Kefir Butter, Muscle Mates™, cheeses and ProBugs® for kids. Its products are sold across the United States, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Central America and the Caribbean.