11:45am UK, Friday May 16, 2008

Britons will be forking out a £375m a year on baked beans within the next four years, according to a new survey.

180 baked beans

From standby to menu star

The humble larder standby is continuing to catch on with health-conscious shoppers, says market analyst Mintel.

Vivianne Ihekuweazu, senior consumer analyst at the company, said: "The latest shift towards healthy eating and cooking fresh food could have relegated baked beans to the back of the kitchen cupboard, but instead manufacturers have used these trends to their advantage."

In 2005, the market stood at some £265m, up by 13% since 2001.

Shoppers currently spend £295m a year on baked beans, with that figure set to rise by 27% by 2012.

Mintel has previously pointed out that manufacturers have been able to raise their prices and thus increase their profits in recent times.

This has not always been the case in the past, particularly during the "baked bean price war" of 1996 when a can of supermarket beans fell to as low as 4p.

Mintel's research also shows that 85% of UK shoppers picked up a tin of beans when out food shopping last year.

However, often considered a close relation of baked beans, canned pasta, such as spaghetti hoops and ravioli, has fared less well, with sales falling by 8% between 2005 and 2007, to just £99m.

Mintel says this market "...has suffered from stiff competition, as more and more of us are happy to cook up a quick bowl of pasta instead. They have also found it hard to overcome their unhealthy image."

But it forecasts that sales of canned pasta will increase by 12% in the next four years, following improvements to its ranges.