UK tofu brand The Tofoo Co has broken ground on a new production facility in Yorkshire, set to double its production capacity and support the company’s growth plans.

The new plant, located in North Yorkshire’s Malton Enterprise Park, will provide twice the capacity and 3.5 times the productive space as the brand’s current facilities, providing a platform for the brand to reach production of over 10,000 tonnes of tofu by 2033.

The Tofoo Co noted growing demand for natural sources of protein, including tofu, as shoppers seek versatile, protein-rich ingredients and become more conscious of artificial ingredients.

The expansion is designed to address these needs, with the brand’s growth pipeline recently seeing the launch of new products in both the French and German markets. The Tofoo Co said it sees ‘substantial’ growth opportunities in these countries. Once operational, the new site is designed to support sales of £73 million.

Supporting the brand’s ongoing growth ambitions, the new site will include a dedicated space for a Tofoo Co development kitchen and a pilot plant to support new product development, trials and customer experiences, while 25% of the facility’s non-allocated space will be retained to accommodate future products and evolving business needs.

The company said sustainability has been a central consideration in the design of the site, which will be equipped to support resource efficiency and reduce environmental impact through measures such as reduced wastewater, on-site solar generation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and heat recovery systems.

David Knibbs, CEO of The Tofoo Co, said: “We’ve built a strong position in the UK tofu market, and we see significant opportunities ahead as more consumers discover tofu as a natural, versatile source of protein”.

“This investment is about creating the foundations for our next chapter and ensuring we have the capacity, capability and flexibility to meet growing demand from both the UK and Europe.”