The Tofoo Co. has expanded the production capacity at its factory in Yorkshire, UK, by approximately 70% following the installation of new equipment at the site.
The Malton-headquartered tofu producer has installed a new soy milk cooker at the plant, which will enable to company to produce an additional 50 tonnes of plain tofu per week. The firm has also added new packing and pressing machinery to meet increased demand.
The Tofoo Co. was acquired by its current owners in 2016, and the company’s annual turnover has increased from £600,000 to £14 million in this time.
While the company solely produced plain block tofu prior to its takeover, The Tofoo Co. now produces tofu products containing Nigari, a natural ingredient which reportedly enhances the texture and taste of tofu products.
The Tofoo Co. has released several new products this year, including Sage & Onion tofu Sizzlers in April and a range of Crispy Bites in March. A statement from the company claims that this latest expansion will allow it to meet the increasing demand for its products, driven by the increasing number of consumers following meat-free diets.
David Knibbs, managing director of The Tofoo Co. said: “The arrival and installation of the new milk cooker marks a further one million pound investment at the Tofoo factory.
“The new piece of equipment will support the business to increase its monthly turnover that currently sits at over £1 million. We’re also expanding our operational output with packing hall machinery and pressing to ensure we have enough capacity to meet the anticipated high demand.
“Trends suggest that interest in trying tofu has increased, and with cafés and restaurants currently closed, people are experimenting more with what they can cook at home.
“The tofu category penetration is continuing to increase, up 40% compared to two years ago, and its share in meat-free is growing month on month. The category has also added over 500,000 households in one year, however there are currently 5.8 million households eating meat-free who aren’t trying tofu. The opportunity for growth within the sector is significant.”
© FoodBev Media Ltd 2024
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