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wbjournal.com | March 23, 2026 | Worcester Business Journal 5 square feet and sits on a 1.93-acre lot, ac- cording to City of Worcester property re- cords. e site received a 2026 assessment of $1.82 million, with the land accounting for $914,400 of that value. Ayer manufacturer finishes $55M expansion, builds world's largest tofu production line Ayer-based tofu manufacturer Nasoya has completed a $55-million expansion project, adding nearly 65,000 square feet of new production space and creating what the firm says is the largest tofu production line in the world. e Nasoya expansion project added 200 feet to its production lines, meaning the manufacturer's lines now total 320 feet for coagulation, forming, and automated packing of the company's tofu, Suk Kim, vice president of marketing at Nasoya par- ent company Pulmuone Foods USA, said in an email to WBJ. e facility as a whole now takes up nearly 200,000 square feet. Nasoya's scaled line features new production technologies and automated systems, doubling the manufacturer's pro- duction capacity to 400,000 pounds of tofu per day, equating to more than 2.1 million servings. e project will add approximate- ly 20% more jobs to the Ayer facility, said Kim. e company did not provide the exact number of jobs created. "With the overall U.S. tofu market pro- jected to nearly double by 2030, this invest- ment ensures we have the infrastructure in place to continue leading the category and meeting rising consumer demand," Kim said. Pulmuone's U.S. tofu sales have grown $48 million, or 38%, since 2022, prompt- ing the California-based manufacturer to invest in its Nasoya site. "With increased capacity at its expanded Massachusetts facility and coast-to-coast production capabilities in both Massachu- setts and California, Nasoya now has the scale and operational strength to support this momentum, meet rising demand and help shape the future of plant-based pro- tein in the U.S.," said Kim. Founded in 1978, Nasoya was acquired by Pulmuone Foods in 2016, according to a May 2016 press release. While Pulmuone did not disclose financials of the transac- tion, media outlets including Food Dive reported the purchase was valued at $50 million. Worcester Business Journal (ISSN#1063-6595) is published bi- weekly, 24x per year, including 4 special issues in May, September, October, and December by New England Business Media, 446 Main St, Suite 201, Worcester, MA 01608. Periodicals postage paid at Worcester, MA. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Worcester Business Journal, 446 Main St, Suite 201, Worcester, MA 01608. 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Other terms and conditions may apply. Inquire with a Banker to learn more. Supporting local businesses. Building lasting relationships. $3,825,000 Owner-Occupied Real Estate Acquisition SBA 504 Loan Sterling, MA $8,622,000 Hotel Acquisition SBA 504 Loan North Smithfield, RI $3,904,500 Single Family Home Development Land Acquisition, Development & Construction Financing Southborough, MA $920,000 Equipment Financing Boylston, MA CORRECTION: The story "Bay State's commercial growth" from the March 9 edition incorrectly said Seth Pitts took over as president and CEO of Bay State Savings Bank in 2022. In fact, he started the leadership role in 2023. W Karen LaFond Amanda Risch Anne Grenier Tricia Koss Donna Truex Christine Griffin Nisha Koshy Mia Lahti Kelly Akana Isani Castro Elisabeth Finn Alicia Hoffman Renee Kirk Rachael Poirier Rosemary Tootell Lucille Brennan Pamela Massad Theresa Varnet 508.459.8000 | FletcherTilton.com WORCESTER | BOSTON | FRAMINGHAM | CAPE COD | PROVIDENCE At Fletcher Tilton, we are proud to celebrate the 18 women attorneys whose leadership, insight, and dedication help drive our firm forward. Their work strengthens our clients, our profession, and our communities. We are honored to recognize their contributions in this year's Women in Leadership issue. Women in Leadership