Tofurky mango chipotle and chorizo

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Products & Launches

Tofurky Introduces Chorizo and Mango Chipotle Sausages in Face of Recent Anti-Vegan Press

Tofurky, a legacy brand pioneering plant-based meat since 1995, announces the expansion of its popular line of sausages with the introduction of two new flavors: Chorizo and Mango Chipotle. The latest additions increase the company’s sausage lineup from three to five, complementing its range of plant-based deli slices, tempeh, chick’n, and roasts. The new Chorizo variant features a bold, Mexican-style flavor profile, enriched with a blend of aromatic herbs and spices, designed to pair with classic Mexican dishes like beans, rice, tortillas, and nachos, while the Mango Chipotle combines ripe mango and chipotle pepper for a sweet, smoky, and spicy experience. The expansion of Tofurky’s sausage line is part of the company’s strategic move to cater to the evolving tastes and preferences of consumers, which …

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Politics & Law

Tofurky Continues Pushback on Alternative Meat Censorship Laws in the United States

In recent months, a growing discussion has emerged in the United States surrounding the enforcement of alternative meat censorship laws. These laws, designed to regulate the labeling of plant-based and cultivated meat products, have faced legal challenges from advocacy groups and plant-based food companies, with Tofurky, the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), and the Good Food Institute (GFI) taking the lead in opposing them. In Texas, the governor signed a labeling law for plant-based and cultivated meat in May. This law, which went into effect on September 1, 2023, mandates that products resembling traditional animal-derived items are prominently labeled with their nature as plant-based or lab-grown. Tofurky, represented by ALDF and GFI, has filed a legal challenge against this law, arguing that its requirements are …

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Tofurky Acquisition

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Investments & Acquisitions

Tofurky and Sister Brand Moocho Acquired by Morinaga Nutritional Foods

Plant-based meat producer Tofurky announces US-based Morinaga Nutritional Foods has acquired the company and its sister brand, Moocho. With the purchase of Tofurky, Morinaga will reportedly now own the #3 retail plant-based meat brand in the US.  According to Tofurky, Morinaga – which manufactures Mori-Nu Silken Tofu- has a longstanding relationship as the former’s tofu supplier for 17 years. The acquisition will help strengthen Tofurky and Moocho’s integrated supply chain and future category growth for both brands.  Tofurky states it will continue manufacturing products at its sustainably-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 uphold the core values, original recipes, and product availability of both Tofurky and Moocho …

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Politics & Law

Tofurky Wins Historic Louisiana Court Case in Fight Against Plant-Based Censorship

Tofurky, one of the leading plant-based brands in the US, has won a major lawsuit victory for vegan meat producers, as a federal judge ruled against a controversial labeling law. The judge ruled the Louisiana law unconstitutional after it stopped plant-based producers like Tofurky from using terms like “burger” or “sausage”. Facing fines of $500 per day for using such terms on its plant-based meat products, even when featuring qualifiers such as “vegan”, “plant-based”, or “meatless”, Turtle Island Foods, – the owner of Tofurky – had brought a lawsuit against state regulators in 2020, preemptively challenging the new state statute. The US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana ruled on a motion for summary judgment on the lawsuit, halting enforcement of the law. …

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Tofurky Pizza Pockets

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Products & Launches

Tofurky and Moocho Debut New Pepperoni and Cheese Innovations

Plant-based meat producer Tofurky and sister brand Moocho unveiled all-new pepperoni and cheese products at the Winter Fancy Food Show this week.  Both brands are expanding their portfolios to feature more plant-based comfort foods, which include improved pepperoni slices and a collection of cream cheese and cheese shreds. All of the products are non-GMO, vegan and free from cholesterol, soy and gluten, according to a release.  The brands provided additional details on the latest products:  Tofurky Pepperoni – Offers complex meaty flavors blended with garlic, mustard and crushed red pepper. Can be enjoyed hot or cold and has ability to brown or char at high heat. Moocho Cream Cheese – Features a rich, tangy flavor and spreadable texture created from the same culturing techniques used …

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Studies & Numbers

Revealed: Which Vegan Brands are Hottest on Twitter in Each US State?

A new map shows the most popular vegan brands on Twitter across all states in the US. The results are based on geotagged Twitter data in the last month; tracking over 200,000 tweets, hashtags, and direct keyword phrases for vegan food brands.  Oat-based dairy leader Oatly came out on top of the data, being the most trending brand in 19 states including California, New York, and Texas. MorningStar Farms came in second with nine states including Illinois and North Carolina, and Gardein in third with six states including Florida and Michigan.  Beyond Meat was top trending in six states including Missouri and Minnesota, and Impossible Foods took three states including Oklahoma. Quorn was top in Ohio and Nebraska, while Tofurky was most popular in Washington …

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Gilad Faufman, Tofurky

Gilad Faufman ©Tofurky

People

Tofurky Hires Former Beyond Meat Scientist Gilad Kaufman as Vice President of R&D

Tofurky recently announced the onboarding of Gilad Kaufman, former Scientist at Beyond Meat, as the company’s new Vice President of R&D. As part of Tofurky’s senior leadership team, Kaufman will refresh and accelerate the innovation pipeline and work on the development of Tofurky and Moocho products. Kaufman, holder of a PhD in Soft Matter Science from Yale University, spent three years at Beyond Meat, where he served as a Senior Soft Matter Scientist, focusing on improving the texture and appearance of plant-based meats. Kaufman will put together a product development team based in Hood River, Oregon, recruiting scientists with a passion for creating new and exciting plant-based products. Tofurky states this team will “strive to modernize flavor, texture and juiciness experiences for growing product portfolios” …

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Company News

Tofurky to Unveil New Algae-Based Meat Innovations

Tofurky, the leading independent producer of vegan meat products in the US, has announced a collaboration with Triton Algae Innovations to bring new algae-based meat innovations to the North American market, set for retail rollout in Q1 of 2022. Last Thanksgiving, Tofurky reported a massive spike in sales orders amounting to the company’s largest annual increase since 2015, stating that it was unable to keep up with production capabilities to meet demand. The new collaboration comes in time for this year’s Thanksgiving where demand will inevitably be even higher than in 2020 as the plant-based category continues to explode. As algae and microalgae ingredients continue to trend for their sustainability benefits, Triton’s “essential red” algae, which is rich in protein, along with Vitamin A and …

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Fairs & Events

The First Global Tempeh Conference “TEMPETHON 2021” Debuts 27th June

A new virtual conference called TEMPETHON 2021 will debut on the 27th of this month to spotlight the traditional Indonesian fermented protein, as fermented foods continue to trend. The event will feature a TED Talk, cooking workshops, and an innovation panel hosted by Seth Tibbott, founder of Tofurky. “Tempeh is different than other plant-based proteins in that it is not trying to be anything else,” Seth Tibbott, Founder of Tofurky In the USA, tempeh products are witnessing an annual growth rate of 30.1% in Natural Food Stores and 29.7% in Conventional Grocery Stores. Tempeh is enjoyed for its firm texture, nutty/mushroom flavor and versatility, and provides 15 grams of cholesterol-free protein in a 3oz serving, establishing itself as one of the most nutritious sources of …

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Plantbased Business Hour

As Slaughterhouses Shut Down, Tofurky Production Ramps Up

Vegan Veteran, former treehouse dweller and Founder of Tofurky, Seth Tibbott, joins Elysabeth Alfano on the The Plantbased Business Hour to discuss his frustration with meat and dairy bailouts when these companies are indeed making people sick, both from eating the food and by working in their facilities. As Seth says, “It really stinks.” Tibbott also relates Tofurky’s booming plant-based business, their new factory strategy during Covid-19, the imminent launch of Moocho Cheese, including cheesecake, destined to revolutionize the dairy-free cheese industry and his book, In Search of the Wild Tofurky, How a Business Misfit Pioneered Plant-based Foods Before They Were Cool.  Plus, Felipe Alvalos of Big Love Catering joins the two to talk feeding first responders vegan meals during the crisis. Points of note in the full interview …

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Society

Vegan Business Solidarity: Ten Plant-Based Leaders Reveal Their Favourite Vegan Companies

In these uncertain times when many businesses are suffering hardship or even facing closure, we at vegconomist reached out to plantbased leaders across the globe and asked them to nominate their most-loved vegan business, which they feel is deserving of love and support from the vegan community right now.

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Seth Tibbott of Tofurky

CEO Seth Tibbott of Tofurky

Top Stories

Tofurky Founder Seth Tibbott Discusses His New Book ‘In Search of the Wild Tofurky’ and Gives us an Advance Preview

Tofurky founder/CEO Seth Tibbott, who founded the veggie meat company back in 1980, has written a book about his experience as a pioneer of vegan meat, named ‘IN SEARCH OF THE WILD TOFURKY: How a Business Misfit Pioneered Plant-Based Foods Before They Were Cool’. Here he speaks with us about the book and offers us an excerpt from his unique story, ahead of its release next month.

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Market & Trends

Extensive Investment in Plant-Based Food on the American Market

The American plant-based food market is currently booming, and investment in this sector is rising steadily. For example, Greenleaf Foods recently announced a $310 million investment in a new production facility, and plant-based producer Tofurky is being backed by further private investment. US company Greenleaf Foods, a subsidiary of Canadian Maple Leaf Foods Inc., announced that it will build the “largest plant for the production of plant-based proteins” in North America. The construction of the factory, which will be located in Shelbyville, Indiana, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020. The new facility will cost approximately $310 million and create approximately 460 new jobs. According to President and CEO Michael H. McCain, the investment will contribute to the company’s vision of becoming the …

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Company News

Tofurky Raises $7 Million

Tofurky, based in Oregon USA, has announced this week that it has raised $7 million investment from an outside, undisclosed source. Since 1995 Tofurky has produced Vegan Society Approved turkey replacement foods, made from wheat protein and organic tofu. CEO Jaime Athos has stated that revenues at the company grew 20% in 2018 from 2017, and this should continue to grow due to the global explosion of plant-based food.

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