Plant-based meats Producer Tofurky announced the acquisition of US-based Morinaga Nutritional Foods Company and its sister brand, Moocho. With the purchase of Tofurky, Morinaga will now own the #3 retail plant-based meat brand in the US.
“We’re excited to help grow both Tofurky and Mucho’s presence in the U.S. while strengthening manufacturing capabilities.”
According to Tofurki, Morinaga—which makes Mori-nu silken tofu—has a long-standing relationship as a tofu supplier in the East for 17 years. The acquisition will help strengthen Tofurky and Moocho’s integrated supply chain and future segment growth for both brands.
Tofurky says it will continue to manufacture products at its sustainability-focused facility in Hood River, Oregon, while Morinaga plans to increase the facility’s “operational excellence” by providing technical staff to maximize capacity. Morinaga will also maintain the core values, original recipes and product availability of both the Tofurki and Mucho brands.
A longtime staple of meat alternatives, Tofurkey has made new efforts to refresh and innovate its product line in recent years, including recruitment A former Beyond Meat scientist will lead its R&D team, self expression A new plant-based burger, and incorporates sustainable algae ingredients into its products
In 2020, Tofurky launched mucho As its first vegan dairy line, which offers a variety of shredded cheeses and cream cheeses.
Silken tofu is the leader
Based in California, Morinaga Nutritional Foods is best known for its popular shelf-stable silken tofu, Mori-Nu Silken Tofu. Its products are sold in both retail and foodservice channels with a focus on quality and aseptic packaging.
In addition to Tofurky’s production facility in Hood River, Morinaga operates a tofu manufacturing plant in Tualatin, Oregon, and a sales and research and development office in Torrance, California. The company said it plans to coordinate with Tofurky’s sales and marketing teams to fine-tune its portfolio approach to the US market.
“Skill Strengthening”
“TuFurkey has a proven track record of success in the United States and is a significant player in the plant-based segment with many loyal fans,” said Hiroyuki Imanishi, president and CEO of Morinaga Nutritional Foods. “We are excited to help strengthen both Tofurky and Mucho’s presence in the U.S. while strengthening manufacturing capabilities to meet growing market demand and encouraging new product development.”