MORTON GROVE, ILL. — Danone SA, Paris, has withdrawn its bid to acquire Lifeway Foods, Inc.Lifeway said Sept. 18 that a strategic review committee formed by the company’s board of directors had engaged extensively with Danone and that the global consumer packaged goods company had withdrawn its proposal to acquire Lifeway. “With the distraction of Danone's unsolicited proposal now behind us, we will continue to focus on executing our growth strategy to create value for all our shareholders, employees, partners and customers,” Lifeway said. In September 2024, Danone, which has been a shareholder in Lifeway for more than two decades, sent its first proposal of more than $280 million. Lifeway rejected the unsolicited offer, as well as a $300 million-plus follow-up offer in November 2024. Sales for the first half of fiscal 2025 rose to $99.9 million from $93.8 million the year before.