Pulmuone Makes Foray into Vegetable Protein and Meat Business

Pulmuone has entered the vegetable protein and vegetable meat business, aiming to become a leading vegetable-based food company.

Pulmuone announced on March 24 that it plans to secure future growth engines by launching new products in the global market in line with the growing vegetable intake among young consumers.

Pulmuone's vegetable-based food business strategy aims at realizing lifestyles of health and sustainability (LOHAS) values by minimizing meat consumption and providing food and diet using vegetable ingredients.

Pulmuone established six major LOHAS strategies including those for nutritional balance, animal welfare, and eco-friendliness, to embody the Pulmuone spirit of "the love of neighbors and a respect for life" and promote sustainable growth in 2020.

This strategy plans to lead the future food market by strengthening its core capabilities based on its world-class technology in tofu manufacturing and the R&D power for vegetable protein, which have been consolidated since its foundation in 1984.

To this end, Pulmuone plans to introduce innovative vegetable-oriented products one by one by establishing a three-stage mid- to long-term roadmap by 2023 with the Plant Protein Meal (PPM) Division dedicated to plant protein.

Pulmuone is carrying out its business by dividing vegetable-oriented foods into six categories -- high-protein foods, low-carbohydrate foods, vegetable meat, vegetable beverages and drinking foods, fermented vegetable oils and vegetable convenience foods.

Pulmuone plans to launch this year more than 20 new products including high-protein vegetable foods, low-carbohydrate vegetable foods, vegetable meat made of vegetable ingredients, an alternative to animal meat. Eight of them have already been developed.

First of all, Pulmuone will release a home meal replacement styled and low-carbohydrate vegetable food "Tofu Noodle KIT" which replaces flour noodles, a carbohydrate food. After releasing Cube Tofu and Tofu Bar as vegetable high-protein foods, the company plans to introduce the vegetable meat Tofu-Crumble Sauce for Boiled Rice and the Tofu Tender which replaces chicken.

Pulmuone is also planning to introduce domestic vegetable-oriented products at the same time in global markets. It will secure competitiveness by developing not only patties but also Korean-style menus like direct grilled meat in various areas including high-protein vegetable foods, low-carbohydrate vegetable foods and vegetable meat.

As a vegetable fermented milk product, Pulmuone Danone launched vegan yogurt Vegetable Activia made of coconut instead of milk. This product is the first certified alternative yogurt for vegans produced by a major fermented milk company in Asia.

Pulmuone's overseas subsidiaries are launching vegetable-oriented products by making a road map.

Pulmuone USA, a U.S. subsidiary of Pulmuone, is a leading company with the largest share (75 percent) in the tofu market and is planning to actively penetrate the U.S. vegetable protein market based on 30 years of experience and know-how in localization.

Pulmuone USA recently launched Plantspired, a vegetable-oriented food brand. Plantspired means food developed by those inspired by plants.

Pulmuone USA plans to lead trends in vegetable protein foods in the United States by actively developing various high-protein processed tofu and vegetable meat products that satisfy American consumers.

Asahiko, a Japanese subsidiary of Pulmuone, launched the vegetable-oriented food brand Tofu Protein. Tofu Protein means that it provides a healthier diet by taking advantage of tofu protein which has low sugar content and vegetable property.

Tofu Bar launched in November last year has crossed 2.5 million units in sales in just four months since its launch, captivating local consumers with its simple protein intake and chewy texture. Asahiko plans to expand its sales to all over Japan in 2021.

Fumetour Foods, a Chinese subsidiary of Pulmuone, is planning to expand and develop vegetable-oriented products with tofu at its center. In addition to the existing packaging tofu and processed tofu, the company plans to expand its lineup around "Pu Chufang," a vegetable protein meal kit brand and "Pu Xiuxian," a vegetable protein snack brand.

"The COVID-19 pandemic will fuel consumers’ interest in healthy and nutritious vegetable protein sources instead of meat and consumption trends that value the global environment and ecosystem, I expect," said Lee Sang-yoon, director of the Pulmuone Research Institute. “Pulmuone will take the initiative in the vegetable-oriented food business based on its tofu production technology and R&D capacities on bean protein.”