Flooring solution for tofu production

06 December 2021

Food Processing finds out more about the flooring solution specified for Tofu King’s new facilities.

Tofu King, a leading plant-based food manufacturer has recently expanded its UK operations to meet the surge in demand for its bean curd products. The manufacturer has moved to a new production and warehouse facility in Aston, Birmingham – which will allow it to produce its product range – tofu blocks, sheets and fried varieties – at a single site.

Following recommendations from other food manufacturing companies and a meeting on the Kemkile stand at a leading UK trade exhibition two years ago the company specified hygienic flooring from Kemtile for the new facility.

Yan Lui, owner and managing director at Tofu King, was finally convinced about the Kemtile floor following a visit to a pizza manufacturer’s supply chain centre, in Warrington – to see one of its recently completed flooring projects.

This visit went on to provide ideas and inspiration to inform Tofu King’s hygienic flooring solution and, during the two-month project period, Kemtile installed 1,380m2 of co-polymer screed to the desired drainage ‘falls’. This was then overlaid with Stonclad UF – a trowel applied, high-performance polyurethane floor screed.

Stonclad UF is hard-wearing and slip resistant and its dense impervious surface makes it hygienic and easy to clean. Stonclad UF is installed in one application, which makes it ideal for quick completion and minimal down-time. Such benefits make it an increasingly popular specification choice for many food and beverage manufacturers.

Commenting on the project, Lui said: “We needed to expand our UK operation to meet continued consumer demand for bean curd products – through our existing independent and trade base, as well as through new business growth within the retail and foodservice sectors – so it was essential that we chose our partners carefully.

“It was clear from the outset that Kemtile could be trusted to deliver and their experience, expertise and attention to detail was second to none. The project did not come without its challenges – which related to the very specific demands of bean curd manufacture – but these were quickly overcome.”