Pulmuone said on the 19th that its U.S. subsidiary's tofu sales last year hit a record high of 224.2 billion won ($157.6 million), up 12.2% from a year earlier.
In particular, Pulmuone said sales of "High Protein Tofu," which increases protein content and cooking convenience, nearly tripled from 15.6 billion won in 2021 to 41.5 billion won in 2025, driving overall tofu sales growth.
High Protein Tofu features a high protein content of 14 grams per 85 grams per serving, and sales have been steadily increasing as local consumer trends spread to cut back on meat and seek healthier protein.
Pulmuone noted that, helped by rising local demand for tofu, it secured major new sales outlets and increased supply starting at the end of the third quarter last year, and expects the sales growth effect to continue this year. Tofu sales are increasing across various channels, including food service, global dining franchises, and food material B2B (business-to-business) transactions, and the company plans to actively develop new channels such as school meals and healthy restaurants.
Pulmuone plans to complete an expansion of the production line at the Ayer tofu plant on the U.S. East Coast during the first quarter of this year to secure additional growth engines, pursue an expansion of the annual soft tofu production facilities at the Fullerton plant in the West, and pioneer new markets by launching innovative new products.
Tofu is a key category that accounts for about half of Pulmuone's total sales at its U.S. subsidiary, and Pulmuone has led the U.S. tofu market in market share for 11 consecutive years this year. Pulmuone acquired "Nasoya," the No. 1 tofu brand in the United States, in 2016 and began its tofu business in earnest. Since then, it has steadily launched new tofu products that suit local tastes and increased supply through continuous expansion of production infrastructure.
Pulmuone operates tofu plants at three locations, including Fullerton, California, on the U.S. West Coast and Ayer, Massachusetts, on the East Coast, and sells tofu nationwide through local production. Its products are currently sold at more than 15,000 stores of major U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Target, Publix, and Kroger.
Cho Gil-su, CEO of PulmuoneUSA at Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary, said, "As the flexitarian (flexible vegetarian) population grows in the United States and the trend of choosing high-protein plant-based foods instead of meat spreads, local demand for tofu continues to rise," adding, "By expanding supply, we plan to further solidify our leadership in the U.S. tofu market by actively targeting new channels alongside growth in existing retail channels."