BusinessQuiet 78d · day 78
UK bean sales surge 7.3% as shoppers ditch meat to save money
British consumers are buying significantly more legumes while cutting back on both real and plant-based meat, driven by affordability and health concerns.
What to know
- UK legume sales jumped 7.3% in H1 2026 versus H1 2025, with dried lentils up 23% and canned butter beans up 30.3%, as shoppers seek affordable protein amid meat inflation.
- Consumers are shifting from both real meat and fake meat products toward simpler plant proteins like beans and lentils that offer better nutritional value at lower cost.
- Major retailers including Sainsbury's, M&S, Lidl and Subway have committed to the Bang in Some Beans campaign, which aims to double UK bean consumption by 2028.
Jamie Oliver Celebrity chef, Bang in Some Beans campaign leader
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Celebrity chef, Bang in Some Beans campaign leaderChloe MacKean Food business transformation manager, Food FoundationMadre Brava Climate advocacy group conducting market analysisNielsenIQ Market research firm
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