Pulmuone tofu succeeds in the U.S. ... 11 straight years at No. 1 with cumulative sales of 107.8 billion won through May
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Pulmuone U.S. subsidiary tofu sales performance
Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary reported cumulative tofu sales of 107.8 billion won in May, up 16.8% from a year earlier. The company disclosed the results on June 18. Despite weaker consumer sentiment caused by persistent high inflation, the company said it lowered barriers to entry with tofu products that match mainstream consumers' tastes and needs, while expanding supply through continued investment in production infrastructure.
Why water-packed tofu drove overall growth
Water-packed tofu, the flagship product line that accounts for about 70% of total tofu sales, posted revenue of 79.9 billion won on a cumulative basis through May this year, up about 24% from a year earlier. The sharp increase came as supply volumes expanded significantly, centered on a major new customer secured in September 2025. Strong sales of silken tofu at a major local distributor's private label, along with solid performance in existing big-box retail channels, also created synergies and drove meaningful volume growth across the distribution network.
Growth in high-protein tofu and processed tofu
High Protein Tofu grew steadily across most channels, including Asian markets and discount stores, and generated sales of about 19.2 billion won, up more than 13% from a year earlier. Processed tofu also rose more than 9% year on year to about 8.8 billion won. As a result, sales across all tofu product lines at Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary increased evenly.
Pulmuone U.S. subsidiary's tofu distribution channels
Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary sells water-packed tofu, High Protein Tofu, and processed tofu at about 15,000 locations of major retailers nationwide, including Walmart Inc., Whole Foods Market, The Kroger Company, Target, and Publix.
Production capacity doubled with expansion of the East Ayer plant
In March, Pulmuone completed an expansion of its East Ayer tofu factory in Massachusetts. The company built a Hyperline capable of producing 9,000 tofu blocks per hour, doubling production capacity. If the expansion of silken tofu production facilities at the Fullerton factory in California is also completed within the year, the company expects to gain momentum in new markets such as food service, global restaurant franchises, and B2B ingredient supply channels.
Why Pulmuone holds the No. 1 market share in the U.S. tofu market
Tofu is a core business for Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary, accounting for nearly half of its total sales. As of 2026, Pulmuone has maintained the No. 1 market share in the U.S. tofu market for 11 consecutive years. Since acquiring Nasoya, the country's leading tofu brand, in 2016 and launching its tofu business in earnest, Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary has consistently introduced new tofu products tailored to local tastes and needs. Pulmuone's U.S. tofu sales have hit record highs every year since 2021.
The future strategy of the head of Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary
Jo Gil-soo, head of Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary, said, "As the local trend toward reducing meat consumption and seeking healthier protein continues to spread, tofu is rapidly becoming a popular food culture among U.S. consumers." He added, "Based on our successful channel diversification centered on big-box retailers and our overwhelming supply capacity through expanded production infrastructure, we will further solidify our No. 1 position in the U.S. tofu market."
Q1. What drove the sharp increase in water-packed tofu sales in the U.S. tofu market?
Water-packed tofu posted sales of 79.9 billion won on a cumulative basis through May 2026, up about 24% from a year earlier, as supply volumes expanded sharply around a major new customer secured in September 2025. Strong sales of silken tofu at a major local distributor's private label, along with solid performance in existing big-box retail channels, created synergies and led to meaningful volume growth across the distribution network.
Q2. Which company has maintained the No. 1 market share in the U.S. tofu market for 11 consecutive years?
Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary has maintained the No. 1 market share in the U.S. tofu market for 11 consecutive years since acquiring Nasoya, the country's leading tofu brand, in 2016. Tofu is a core business that accounts for nearly half of the subsidiary's total sales, and U.S. tofu sales have reached record highs every year since 2021.
Q3. Which tofu product can meet rising demand from U.S. consumers for high-protein foods?
Pulmuone's High Protein Tofu posted sales of about 19.2 billion won, up more than 13% from a year earlier, with balanced growth across most channels, including Asian markets and discount stores. The product offers higher protein content and greater convenience in cooking, and is sold at about 15,000 locations, including Walmart Inc., Whole Foods Market, The Kroger Company, Target, and Publix.
Q: How did Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary perform in tofu sales?
A: Cumulative tofu sales for Pulmuone's U.S. subsidiary in May 2026 rose 16.8% from a year earlier to 107.8 billion won. Water-packed tofu, the flagship product line, led overall growth with sales of 79.9 billion won, up about 24% year on year.
Q: What factors drove the growth in Pulmuone's U.S. tofu sales?
A: Supply volumes of water-packed tofu expanded around a major new customer secured in September 2025, while strong sales of silken tofu at a major local distributor's private label and robust performance in big-box retail channels worked together to boost growth. The expansion of the East Ayer tofu factory, completed in March 2026, also helped by doubling production capacity.
Q: What effect did the expansion of Pulmuone's East Ayer tofu factory have?
A: The March 2026 expansion of the East Ayer tofu factory established a Hyperline capable of producing 9,000 tofu blocks per hour and doubled production capacity from previous levels. This strengthened the company's ability to meet surging demand for tofu in the U.S. market.
Water-packed tofu: A tofu product packaged with filling water after the tofu is processed into a firmer texture. It is Pulmuone's flagship product line and accounts for about 70% of total tofu sales at its U.S. subsidiary.
Hyperline: A high-speed production line used in tofu manufacturing. It was established through the expansion of Pulmuone's East Ayer tofu factory and can produce 9,000 tofu blocks per hour.
Private Label (PL): A brand product planned and sold by a retailer under its own name. Manufacturing is handled by an outside producer, and the retailer's brand name is attached to the product.
This content was prepared by MaeKyung Biz Content Planning Team based on official announcements and press releases.
