Tofurky
Trademark: Tofurky
First Used: October 1995
First Registered: December 22, 1998
Current Owner: TURTLE ISLAND FOODS, SPC [1]
Trademark Type: traditional trademark; word mark
Primarily Associated With: foods, namely, soy and wheat based meat and game substitutes [2]
Generic Phrase: plant-based meats, as in TOFURKY® brand plant-based meats
Brief (and likely incomplete) History [3]:
Happy Thanksgiving! Looking to celebrate as a vegetarian, vegan, non-meat eater, or fan of plant-based meats? Why not go for the classic: the Tofurky® brand roast!
The Tofurky company was founded in 1980 by Seth Tibbott, a vegetarian entrepreneur who wanted to create plant-based food alternatives. Operating from a treehouse in Oregon, Tibbott initially sold tempeh, a traditional soy-based food, to a niche market. In 1995, inspiration struck as Tibbott and his team developed a plant-based turkey alternative made from tofu and wheat protein, formed into a roast shape, and marketed as a centerpiece for vegetarian holiday meals: the Tofurky roast was born. A portmanteau of “tofu” and “turkey,” the innovative product quickly gained popularity among vegetarians and vegans, as well as environmentally conscious consumers, becoming a holiday staple and helping to popularize plant-based eating.
Today, Tofurky is a global leader in plant-based foods, offering a wide variety of products beyond the iconic Tofurky roast, including deli slices, sausages, burgers, and plant-based cheeses. Still headquartered in Oregon, the brand remains committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly practices such as renewable energy and recyclable packaging. As plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, Tofurky has maintained its pioneering role in the industry, appealing to a broad audience of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians seeking flavorful and ethical food choices.
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[1] Tofurky, https://tofurky.com/.
[2] USPTO, U.S. Trademark Registration No. 2,213,075, available at https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=75436952&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch.
[3] Friendliest Food on the Plate, TOFURKY, available at https://tofurky.com/our-story/our-roots/; Tempeh, Treehouses and Tofurky: The Idiosyncratic Story of a Vegan Pioneer, EDIBLE SEATTLE, available at https://www.edibleseattle.com/features/tempeh-treehouses-and-tofurky-the-idiosyncratic-story-of-a-vegan-pioneer/; Where Does Your Tofurky Come From?, THE NEW YORKER, posted November 21, 2017, and available at https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/tofurky-a-brief-semi-accidental-history-of-thanksgivings-fake-meat; The True Origin Of The Tofurky, TASTING TABLE., posted October 4, 2022, and available at https://www.tastingtable.com/1038818/the-true-origin-of-the-tofurky/; A Deep Dive Into The History Of Tofurky, SPOON UNIVERSITY, posted November 11, 2023, and available at https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/the-history-of-tofurky/.