"Does It Really Sell This Well?" K-Food Tofu Hits 200 Billion Won in U.S., No. 1 for 11 Years Straight

U.S. tofu sales reach 224.2 billion won... up 12.2% from previous year
Record-high annual sales every year since 2021
Rising demand for plant-based protein... stronger push into U.S. market

Pulmuone has posted record-high sales in the U.S. tofu market by putting high-protein products at the forefront. Attention is focusing on whether the K-food boom will extend to tofu as well.

Tofu (This photo is not directly related to the article). Pixabay

Pulmuone announced on February 19 that last year its U.S. subsidiary recorded tofu sales of 224.2 billion won (157.6 million dollars). This is a 12.2% increase from the previous year and marks an all-time high. Rising demand for plant-based protein in the United States and a strategic expansion of sales channels drove the strong performance. Since 2021, tofu sales at Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary have been breaking record highs every year, maintaining steep growth.

The main growth driver was its "High Protein Tofu." Sales of this product, which offers higher protein content and greater cooking convenience, surged from 15.6 billion won in 2021 to 41.5 billion won last year, nearly a threefold increase. Containing 14 grams of protein per serving (85 grams), it aligned well with the consumer trend of cutting back on meat consumption while seeking healthier protein sources.

Tofu is a key product that accounts for roughly half of the total sales of Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary. Pulmuone has maintained the No. 1 market share in the U.S. tofu market for 11 consecutive years and sells its products at more than 15,000 stores of major U.S. retailers such as Walmart, Target, Publix, and Kroger. The company expects sales growth to continue this year as well, as it has secured new large retail accounts since the end of the third quarter of last year and expanded supply.

Pulmuone tofu sold in the United States. Pulmuone

The company is also expanding its production infrastructure to meet growing demand. Pulmuone plans to complete an expansion of the production line at its tofu plant in Ayer, Massachusetts, within the first quarter of this year, and to increase annual soft tofu production capacity at its Fullerton, California, plant. In addition, it plans to actively develop new channels such as food services, global restaurant franchises, B2B food ingredients, and school meal services.

A Pulmuone official said, "As the flexitarian population in the United States (semi-vegetarians who mainly eat plant-based foods but also consume meat) grows and the trend of consuming high-protein plant-based foods spreads, demand for tofu continues to rise," adding, "We will strengthen our leadership in the U.S. tofu market by expanding supply and targeting new channels."