About Merchant Gourmet
Merchant Gourmet is a pioneering British brand specialising in premium ready-to-eat pulses, grains, and plant-based ingredients. Founded in 1994 by brothers Mark and Oliver Leatham in London, the company was instrumental in bringing quality ingredients like Puy lentils, quinoa, chestnuts, and porcini mushrooms to the UK market. Starting as food distributors who initially supplied game to London's finest restaurants, the Leatham brothers spotted an opportunity to bring restaurant-quality ingredients into everyday home cooking. Merchant Gourmet became Leathams' first brand, notably introducing the first ready-to-eat chestnuts to the UK market. In 2025, the brand was acquired by Premier Foods for £48 million, recognising its strong double-digit growth over recent years. Merchant Gourmet is the UK's sole supplier of authentic DOP Puy Lentils, sourced from the Le-Puy-en-Velay region of South France. Their ready-to-eat pouches include Simply Cooked Puy Lentils, Beluga Lentils, Red & White Quinoa, Tomatoey French Lentils, and globally-inspired flavours like Persian-Style Quinoa & Lentils, Smoky Spanish-Style Grains, and Fiery Jamaican-Style Grains. All pouches are ready in just two minutes. The brand's mission is to inspire more people to eat more plants by making delicious, nutritious food simple to prepare. Products are high in protein, low in fat, vegan-friendly, and a great source of fibre. The range extends to whole chestnuts, mushrooms, microwave rice, and frozen lentils and quinoa. Compare Merchant Gourmet prices across UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, Ocado, and Lidl with Grocefully to find the best value on premium plant-based ingredients.























