Pulmuone Foods USA's tofu lineup / Courtesy of Pulmuone
Even as a sluggish retail environment weighs on American consumer spending, Pulmuone Foods USA, the domestic subsidiary of Korean food conglomerate Pulmuone, is finding a lucrative growth market in U.S. supermarkets.
The company said Thursday that its U.S. tofu revenues rose 16.8 percent year-on-year through May, reaching 107.8 billion won ($71.3 million). The surge reflects a broader shift in American eating habits, as grocery shoppers increasingly pivot toward healthier, plant-based proteins to reduce meat consumption.
The growth was led by Pulmuone’s Water Pack line — a firmer style of tofu packaged in water that accounts for roughly 70 percent of its total tofu revenues. Sales for the line jumped 24 percent to 79.9 billion won, a spike primarily driven by a major new retail account secured last fall. Meanwhile, high-protein varieties rose 13 percent, and processed, pre-seasoned options tailored to Western palates grew nine percent.
To keep pace with demand, Pulmuone has aggressively expanded its manufacturing footprint.
