Food industry giants have announced they are joining the "Bang in Some Beans" campaign which aims to double UK bean consumption by 2028. The campaign, led by The Food Foundation and Veg Power and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund aims to promote beans to the nation as nutritional powerhouses that are a delicious source of protein, fibre and micronutrients. Today leading catering companies and food businesses including Compass Group UK&I (largest catering company in the UK), BaxterStorey and Angel Hill Food co, who are part of OCS, have announced pledges to increase their sale of beans. BaxterStorey has made the most ambitious pledge to double volume sales for all bean products over three years.
Keen Bean Pledgers announced today:-
- Angel Hill Food Co: Increase volume sales for all bean products (incl composites) by 25% by 2028
- BaxterStorey: Double volume sales for all bean products by 2028
- Compass Group UK&I: Increase the proportion of beans procured by 15% by 2028
- Field Doctor: Double volume sales for all bean products by 2028
- Finnebrogue: Double volume sales for all bean products by 2028
- Nursery Kitchen: Increase volume sales of beans by 75% by 2028
- Wahaca: Increase volume sales of bean by 10% by 2028
Beans are currently under consumed in the UK, with the average person eating just one portion of beans a week, despite their increasingly lauded health benefits. However, this seems set to change. With foodies, chefs and influencers putting out recipes to celebrate Fibre February, fibremaxxing trending on social media, and increased public awareness of the fact that only 4% of UK adults are eating the amount of fibre needed to keep them healthy, now is the perfect time for food businesses to announce their commitment to make beans more available and appealing to their customers.
Businesses making their pledges today are joining those who signed up when the campaign launched in November 2025, including Lidl GB, Sainsbury’s, M&S and Ocado, Bidfood, ISS, Waitrose and Harvester There are 19 Keen Bean Pledgers now signed up and a further 6 businesses promising to promote beans, including Samworth Bros, one of the largest manufacturers in the UK, La Bonte Catering, Honest Bean Co, Bird’s Eye, Co-op and Gosh!
News of the Keen Bean Pledgers coincides with the launch of the brand new Bang In Some Beans mini series, from the award winning Food Foundation podcast. This six-part series is hosted by best-selling food writer and chef Melissa Hemsley and will shed light on the many ways that beans, pulses and lentils are good for health and the planet, as well as being good news for stretched family budgets.
“We are absolutely delighted to see so many businesses continuing to get involved with the Bang In Some Beans campaign and our mission to get the UK eating more beans, pulses and other legumes," said Rebecca Tobi, Head of Food Business Transformation. "It really feels like the bean revolution is going from strength to strength at the moment – but there’s still a way to go before we see diets shifting in the UK. We’d love to see more businesses and organisations supporting the UK to bang in some beans by offering more bean options in stores, venues, and restaurants across the country.”