The South Korean food maker said Thursday the gains held up even as stubborn inflation curbed consumer spending in the United States, helped by wider distribution and steady investment in production.
Its tofu now reaches about 15,000 stores across retailers including Walmart, Whole Foods Market, and Target.
The company explained that the advance was driven by water-pack tofu, which accounts for about 70 percent of tofu revenue. Sales of the line surged about 24 percent to 79.9 billion won through May, lifted by a large new account secured last September and brisk demand at discount chains.
High-protein and seasoned processed varieties also gained ground, rising more than 13 percent and 9 percent respectively, as American shoppers shifted toward plant-based protein. Pulmuone doubled capacity in March by completing an expansion of its Ayer plant in Massachusetts, which can now produce 9,000 blocks of tofu an hour.
"Tofu is rapidly taking root as a food culture embraced by American consumers as the trend of eating less meat and choosing healthier protein spreads," said Cho Gil-soo, head of Pulmuone's US unit, adding the company aimed to cement its lead through channel diversification and supply capacity.
Tofu makes up about half of the US unit's revenue, and Pulmuone has held the top share in the American market for 11 straight years since acquiring the Nasoya brand in 2016.
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