Pulmuone Declares Itself a 'Leading Plant-Based Food Company'... Launches Plant-Based Protein Business in Full Scale

Establishment of a 3-Year Mid-Term Roadmap by 2023
Acceleration of New Product Launches in the US, China, and Japan
Launch of Plant-Based Food Brands by Country

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Pulmuone has declared itself a ‘plant-based oriented food leading company’ and is officially launching its plant-based protein and plant-based meat business.

Responding to the recent significant increase in preference and consumption of plant-based foods, Pulmuone announced on the 24th that it has established a 'plant-based oriented food business strategy' based on world-class plant-based protein research and development capabilities and will actively enter the global market.

Leading Plant-Based Oriented Foods to Secure Future Growth Engines

Pulmuone plans to secure future growth engines by launching new products in the Korean, US, Chinese, and Japanese global markets. To this end, it has set a three-phase mid-to-long-term roadmap by 2023 centered on the dedicated plant-based protein division, the ‘PPM (Plant Protein Meal) Business Unit,’ aiming to sequentially introduce innovative plant-based oriented new products.

Pulmuone is developing its plant-based oriented food business across six categories. These categories are ▲plant-based high-protein foods ▲plant-based low-carbohydrate foods ▲plant-based meat ▲plant-based beverages and drinkable foods ▲plant-based fermented dairy ▲plant-based convenience foods.

This year in Korea, Pulmuone plans to launch more than 20 new products across three categories: ‘plant-based high-protein foods’ providing high protein made from plant-based ingredients, ‘plant-based low-carbohydrate foods’ that reduce carbohydrate intake, and ‘plant-based meat’ made from plant-based ingredients as an alternative to animal meat. Among these, eight products have already been developed.

First, under ‘plant-based low-carbohydrate foods,’ Pulmuone will introduce the ‘Tofu Noodle KIT.’ Following this, it plans to sequentially launch ‘Cube Tofu’ and ‘Tofu Bar’ as ‘plant-based high-protein foods,’ and ‘Tofu Crumble Rice Sauce’ and ‘Tofu Tender,’ which replaces chicken, as ‘plant-based meat’ products.

Plant-based directional food developed and scheduled for domestic release by Pulmuone.

High Growth Rates in the US, China, and Japan... Continuous Business Expansion

Pulmuone’s overseas subsidiaries are launching plant-based oriented products according to their roadmaps.

Pulmuone USA, which holds the number one market share (75%) in the US tofu market, recently launched the plant-based oriented food brand ‘Plantspired.’ The name ‘Plantspired’ means food inspired by plants.

Pulmuone USA signed a partnership last November with the University of Massachusetts Dining, the largest university dining service in the US, to provide sustainable plant-based Asian menus. Accordingly, Pulmuone USA currently supplies plant-based meat products to the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus cafeterias and is collaborating on menu development, staff cooking education, and high-quality food development.

Additionally, Pulmuone USA has partnered with Waba Grill, a leader in wellness menus in the US, to supply plant-based meat bulgogi charcoal-grilled products as a main ingredient to over 200 stores in California starting in April.

Pulmuone’s Japanese subsidiary Asahiko launched the plant-based oriented food brand ‘Tofu Protein.’ ‘Tofu Protein’ signifies providing a healthier diet by reducing carbohydrates and leveraging the benefits of plant-based tofu protein. The ‘Tofu Bar,’ first introduced at Japan’s Seven-Eleven last November, captured local consumers’ tastes with its convenient protein intake and chewy texture, surpassing 2.5 million units sold within four months of launch. Asahiko plans to expand sales nationwide in Japan this year.

Pulmuone’s Chinese subsidiary Pumeituo Food is further expanding the development of plant-based oriented products centered on tofu. In addition to existing packaged tofu and processed tofu, it plans to expand its lineup focusing on the plant-based protein meal kit brand ‘Puchufang’ and the plant-based protein snack brand ‘Pushiuxian.’ Alongside this, the strategy is to replace meat in popular local dumplings and pasta with plant-based meat to captivate Chinese consumers’ tastes.

Last year, Pulmuone China officially launched new processed tofu products such as fermented tofu, white fermented tofu, and fragrant fermented tofu, which are popular among Chinese consumers, resulting in an 85% year-on-year growth in tofu business sales. This year, it plans to increase production capacity by expanding lines at its Beijing and Chongqing factories.

Lee Sang-yoon, head of Pulmuone Technology Institute, said, "Since the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers worldwide, including in the US, have rapidly increased their demand for healthy and nutritious plant-based protein sources instead of meat, and the consumer trend emphasizing the global environment and ecosystem is expected to continue. Pulmuone, the world’s largest tofu company, will lead the plant-based oriented food business based on its world-class tofu manufacturing technology and soybean protein research and development capabilities cultivated over the past 40 years, competing shoulder to shoulder with global companies in the future food market."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.