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Tofu Production in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Christopher Lombardo Christopher Lombardo New York, United States Last Updated: April 2024 NAICS OD6169

Revenue

$2.0bn

2024

$2.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

5,552

Businesses

121

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Tofu Production in the US industry analysis

Tofu producers have endured difficult conditions in recent years, largely stemming from the ongoing perception among domestic consumers that tofu is purely a meat substitute intended for vegan and vegetarian diets. Because of this stigma, producers enjoyed sales spikes at the pandemic's peak, when consumers longed for meal variety and became more health-conscious. But supply chain disruptions followed, resulting in many producers struggling to get products to their end consumers, who either reverted back to meat or opted for imported brands, leading sales to plummet substantially. Over the past five years, revenue has been falling at a CAGR of 4.8% and is expected to reach $2.0 billion in 2024, when it will decline by 2.2%.

Trends and Insights

  • Tofu sales ballooned during the pandemic's peak as consumers flocked to grocery stores, increasingly searching for new and healthier dishes. However, producers have struggled to regain these highs, as consumers flocked to imported brands and other meat alternatives.
  • Firm tofu products are most similar in consistency to meat. Since most domestic consumers purchase tofu as a meat alternative, they tend toward the firm or prepressed varieties which have a texture much closer to meat than silken varieties.
  • Production is largely concentrated in the West and Mid-Atlantic regions. Tofu remains most popular in densely populated cities where populations are more diverse and there are more cultures that use tofu in myriad recipes.
  • Tofu producers contend with intensifying competition. Tofu producers compete with other meat substitutes and almost all meat products, ranging from fish to chicken, pork and beef.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 4.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $2.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Producers struggle to regain pandemic-era highs

  • At the pandemic's peak, tofu producers enjoyed substantial growth. Consumers are more likely to try tofu by purchasing at a retail establishment and without safe food service options, consumers flocked to grocery stores and similar outlets.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Tofu Production in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Tofu producers will benefit from general promotion

  • In the coming years, tofu will remain a relatively niche product in domestic kitchens, hindering its growth potential. While producers can most directly benefit from marketing for their brands, general promotion of tofu's use in a variety of dishes could benefit the industry as a whole.

Biggest companies in the Tofu Production in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Pulmuone
499.1
5.8
1.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Tofu Production in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Fresh tofu, Firm tofu and Other tofu products. Fresh tofu is the largest segment of the Tofu Production in the US.

Trends and Insights

Americans favor firmer tofu products, bucking international trends

  • Firm tofu products include plain tofu blocks that are either firm, extra firm or repressed. In each scenario, the product contains much less water than fresh tofu, keeping its form better on the grill or in the oven.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry produce tofu, a curd made from mashed soybeans.

What's included in this industry?

Manufacturing silken tofuManufacturing soft tofuManufacturing firm tofuManufacturing other forms of tofu

Companies

Pulmuone

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Related Terms

Soybean MealSoybean CurdSeitanTempeh

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 31199 - Tofu Production in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Tofu sales ballooned during the pandemic's peak as consumers flocked to grocery stores, increasingly searching for new and healthier dishes. However, producers have struggled...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Firm tofu products are most similar in consistency to meat. Since most domestic consumers purchase tofu as a meat alternative, they tend toward the firm or prepressed varieti...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Production is largely concentrated in the West and Mid-Atlantic regions. Tofu remains most popular in densely populated cities where populations are more diverse and there ar...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Tofu producers contend with intensifying competition. Tofu producers compete with other meat substitutes and almost all meat products, ranging from fish to chicken, pork and ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Tofu production is still finding its footing in the United States. While several major brands dominate retail shelves, few are produced domestically, resulting in now major c...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Pulmuone's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Pulmuone, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Regulations and policies are fairly clear-cut. Since tofu producers generate products for human consumption, they must adhere to a range of policies and regulations. While so...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Profit is low but varies among producers. Given the nascent nature of tofu in most US households, few producers generate substantial profit, but global producers leverage the...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

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What is the market size of the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States is $2.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Tofu Production in the US industry in 2024?

There are 121 businesses in the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 4.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Tofu Production in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Tofu Production market in United States is Pulmuone

What does the Tofu Production in the US in United States include?

Manufacturing silken tofu and Manufacturing soft tofu are part of the Tofu Production in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Tofu Production in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Pulmuone.

How competitive is the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Tofu Production in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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