Tofu company boosts turnover by 200% following successful vegan and veggie trends

Malton-based food manufacturer The Tofoo Co has increased its turnover by 200 per cent this year since 2017.

The Tofoo Co turned over £4.8m in 2018, and is now forecast for £7.5m this year.

Tofoo is currently the best-selling tofu in Britain. Its Naked Tofoo has become the third best-selling line in the entire meat-free category, despite Quorn Cocktail Sausages and Cauldron Falafel outselling it.

The brand, run by husband and wife team David Knibbs and Lydia Smith, started as a small, family-run business in 2016 and has since grown to 58 employees with products now sold in supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsburys and Tesco.

David Knibbs, founder and managing director of The Tofoo Co, said: “Consumers are becoming more aware as to what is in their food, and also the impact their diet has on the environment.

“We’re extremely proud of the fantastic response we’ve had from customers since we launched our organic tofu three years ago, and that our distinctive offering has lead us to be the leading tofu brand in the UK.”

The meat-substitute market has increased in recent years with almost half of UK adults choosing to avoid certain foods or ingredients and 39 per cent regularly buying free-from food and drink.

As well as vegans and vegetarians on the rise, many Brits are cutting down their meat intake by adopting flexitarianism or trends like ‘meat-free Mondays’.

Off the back of this, many brands have stepped into the market providing plant-based products to meet consumer demands.

David added: “We aim to cater for everyone by providing a product that is not only suitable for vegans and vegetarians but for meat-eaters too.

“Our Tofoo is unique in the marketplace, using only organic and sustainably-sourced soya beans and handmade to a traditional Japanese recipe to create great tasting tofu every time.

“The business is growing faster than we could have imagined, and having launched three NPD’s in the last three months and with further growth on the horizon, it is an exciting time for The Tofoo Co.”