Jumping beans: UK shoppers turn to legumes to save cash and improve diet
Sales of beans, lentils and soya bean derivatives on rise while Britons buy less real and fake meat British shoppers are munching more beans, lentils, tofu and tempeh – while cutting back on both real and plant-based fake meat – to save money and improve their diet. The amount of beans, pulses and soya bean derivatives sold in the UK increased by 7.3% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year, led by a surge in cheap dried lentils, an analysis has found. Continue reading...
Sales of beans, lentils and soya bean derivatives on rise while Britons buy less real and fake meat
British shoppers are munching more beans, lentils, tofu and tempeh – while cutting back on both real and plant-based fake meat – to save money and improve their diet.
That was led by a 23% surge for cheap dried lentils, according to data from the market research firm NielsenIQ evaluated by the climate advocacy group Madre Brava.
Shoppers turned to more upmarket legumes , including organic and jarred varieties, with sales of canned and jarred butter beans up by 30.3%.
That growth was partly driven by new products and brands – such as the Bold Bean Co, Navarrico and Marks & Spencer’s own-label – as well as recipes going viral on social media.