Jumping beans: UK shoppers turn to legumes to save cash and improve diet
Summary
More people in the UK are buying beans, lentils, tofu, and other legume products to save money and eat healthier. Sales of these foods rose by 7.3% in early 2026, while purchases of fake meat products declined.Key Facts
- Sales of beans, pulses, and soy products in the UK increased by 7.3% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same time last year.
- Cheap dried lentils saw a 23% rise in sales, and canned butter beans grew by 30.3%.
- Sales of fake meats, like soya and pea proteins, dropped by 4.3%, but mycoprotein products like Quorn grew.
- Meat sales, especially beef and lamb, fell by 1.8% year on year due to rising prices.
- The Bang in Some Beans campaign, supported by chefs and supermarkets, aims to double UK bean consumption by 2028.
- Large companies, including Sainsbury’s, Lidl, and Marks & Spencer, are increasing their plant-based product offerings.
- Lidl reported a 694% increase in sales of plant-based foods since 2020 after introducing new products like flavored tofu.
- Experts say beans are healthy, affordable, and better for the environment than meat.
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