This file image shows Mexican-style Plantspired alternative meat product released by Pulmuone's American subsidiary Nasoya. [Courtesy of Pulmuone]
Pulmuone said in a statement on December 23 that the company partnered with Danisco Nutrition & Biosciences Korea Ltd., the South Korean branch of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF), to cooperate in the development of high-quality soybean-based textured vegetable protein (TVP) products. Through the cooperation, Pulmuone seeks to upgrade the company's TVP processing capabilities and create alternative meat products that offer flavor and texture similar to real meat. Alternative meat products are normally made using plant ingredients such as beans and mushrooms or by cultivating animal cells. TVP has to be properly processed to remove the plant-based meats' distinctive smell and texture.
Pulmuone's TVP-based steak brand called "Plantspired" is currently being supplied to some 200 stores of WaBa Grill, a fusion restaurant chain in the United States. In November 2021, the food company signed a supply agreement with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Pulmuone plans to sign supply deals with Yale University and the University of Michigan to provide vegan meat products. According to global market research firm Statista, the global plant based-meat market reached about $6.67 billion as of 2020. The United States was the world's largest vegan meat market with a total market size of some $1.4 billion.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
