Pulmuone USA announced on Nov. 15 the expansion of its fresh noodle production line at its facility in Gilroy, California, initiating full-scale operations early last month. This enhancement enables an annual production capacity of 24 million packs (based on 190 g per pack) of fresh noodles, a move aimed at meeting the growing demand for Asian noodles in the local market.
Through this expansion, Pulmuone plans to continue the high growth in sales of Asian noodles, which, along with tofu, form a significant part of its business in the United States. The company aims to strengthen local responsiveness and accelerate profit growth.
Since stepping into the U.S. Asian noodle market in 2015, a domain then dominated by lower-priced dry noodles, Pulmuone has differentiated itself with its convenient, premium chilled noodles. From 2017 to 2022, the company has increased its annual sales by 6.3 times, significantly expanding its presence in the local Asian noodle market.
Previously, Pulmuone had been exporting semi-finished products, including fresh noodles, from South Korea and assembling them in the United States. However, with the expansion of the Gilroy factory, the company can now produce fresh noodles locally. This capability not only allows Pulmuone to respond swiftly to the increasing demand for premium fresh noodles in the region but also significantly improves profitability through reduced logistics costs.
Pulmuone USA commenced local production with Teriyaki Stir-fry Udon following the completion of the expansion early last month. The company plans to sequentially increase its product range, including Tonkotsu Ramen among a total of five fresh noodle varieties, aiming for substantial profit growth through reduced logistics costs, including sea freight.