The vegan turkey replacement brand officially introduced in 1995 was Tofurky.
Tofurky was developed by Turtle Island Foods, the Oregon company founded by Seth Tibbott. The original roast was created with The Higher Taste, a Portland-area natural-foods company, and marketed as a meatless centerpiece for Thanksgiving. Its name combines “tofu” and “turkey.”
The roast uses plant proteins, especially tofu and wheat-based seitan, to provide a firm, sliceable texture. It is not the same as every product called “tofurkey,” a broader generic-style term sometimes used for turkey substitutes. Tofurky is the trademarked brand name, while products from Quorn, Boca, Impossible Foods, and other companies are separate alternatives.
Turtle Island initially sold the product through local markets in Portland. The brand later expanded beyond its holiday roast into deli slices, sausages, tempeh, burgers, and other vegan foods, making Tofurky one of the best-known names in plant-based Thanksgiving meals.