Jumping beans: UK shoppers turn to legumes to save cash and improve diet

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Sales of higher-quality legumes went up by much more than standard varieties, recording a 30.3% increase. Photograph: Gareth Phillips/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Sales of higher-quality legumes went up by much more than standard varieties, recording a 30.3% increase. Photograph: Gareth Phillips/The Guardian Food & drink industry 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

Prefer the Guardian on Google British shoppers are munching more beans, lentils, tofu and tempeh – while cutting back on 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 rise in cheap dried lentils, an analysis has found.

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%.