Merchant Gourmet responds to market demand for prepared beans

Merchant Gourmet is introducing a new line of ready-to-eat, drain-free bean pouches that will be available at Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado.

The UK-based brand known for its pulses and grains said the new range features three pouches with beans ready to be eaten straight from the pack or heated in the microwave for 90 seconds. Each pouch of beans also contains Italian extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt.

They are available in Jumbo Chickpea, ‘5 Bean Medley’ – containing cooked cannellini, bortolli, kidney, black and giant butter beans – and Smoky Black Turtle Beans varieties. The turtle beans contain added paprika and chilli to provide a smoky flavour with a hint of spice.

Merchant Gourmet’s latest launch comes in response to increasing demand for pulses and beans, with Kantar data showing nearly one billion units of prepared beans and pulses were sold last year in the UK.

Richard Peake, MD at Merchant Gourmet, noted a convergence of three trends leading to an “explosion” of interest in the beans and pulses category: the movement towards plant-based, the continued education on the downsides of ultra-processed food, and gut health becoming a real focus.

“So, consumers are hunting for minimally processed, high-protein and high-fibre foods,” Peake added. “And of course, we wanted to add a little Merchant Gourmet magic to make the humble bean even better tasting and even more versatile.”

Micheala Neame, head of product at Merchant Gourmet, explained that the brand listened carefully to consumer’s appetite for taste and convenience – in essence, “developing the range that takes the hassle out of tins and gets rid of bland brine to focus on and accentuate the flavour of the beans themselves”.

The range is available now in Sainsbury’s and Ocado, rolling out in Waitrose from 11 November, at an RRP of £2.25 per 240g pouch.

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