Frequently Asked Questions

There are still certain plastics which can’t be recycled at home and previously our pouches have been going to landfill. We’re extremely proud to have found a solution, and earlier this year teamed up with Enval to launch our Recycling Scheme. Together, we will help close the loop and leave no plastic unrecycled. You can find out more information about the scheme and get involved here.

Our whole grain products contain gluten. Other products which do not naturally contain gluten such as lentils, may be grown in rotation with other crops such as wheat or barley or are processed in an environment where there could be a small risk of cross-contamination with gluten, so they are not strictly gluten-free. Please refer to the ingredients section for each individual product on our website or check the back of pack labelling information if purchasing in store.

Our appetite for change led to us taking the decision to focus on plant-based and inspire more people to eat more plants. Our range is fully vegan with the exception of our Peruvian-Style pouch, which is listed exclusively in Lidl. We have recently redeveloped our Peruvian recipe to make it vegan friendly, and you can expect to see it in stores soon.

We do not recommend freezing the pouch itself, however you can remove the contents from the packaging and store it safely in the freezer if you wish. All our products are ambient, so can be kept in the cupboard for a long time!

We pride ourselves on sourcing the best quality ingredients, therefore use a diverse selection of growers and packers to compensate for potential seasonal and geographical quality variances. Our Chestnuts are supplied from both the EU and further afield.

In order to get their Puy name, which is protected under DOP regulations, Puy lentils have to be grown in the small Le Puy region and cultivated in unique conditions that restricts the use of fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation with a mandatory annual crop rotation.  

These unique conditions mean that Puy lentil crops are at high risk from climate change. As a result of the
unstable climate over recent years, Puy Lentils have been subject to extreme harvest fluctuations and we have seen availability of supply decrease to record lows. The poor yield from the most recent harvest has meant that Merchant Gourmet are currently unable to meet the increasing demand of our much loved, bestselling Simply Cooked Puy Lentil pouch.

Despite these supply issues, we have been working hard to ensure that Puy Lentils are available to UK shoppers. Therefore we have decided to update the Simply Cooked Puy Lentil pouch recipe to include French green lentils, which means a reduction in Puy content. Puy lentils are actually a type of green lentil, and French green lentils are often grown near to the Puy region, but are not subject to the same restrictions on farming processes, so are not as exposed to climate change risk or supply issues. This also means the two varieties are closely matched in colour, taste, size and texture.

This small ingredient change is the best solution we have found to ensure that Simply Cooked Puy Lentils are continually stocked on UK supermarket shelves all year around.

You can find our products in all major supermarkets. See a full list of stockists here.

We’ve recently moved to a new warehouse, and unfortunately, we’re no longer able to
reliably fulfil orders for our web shop from this location.

Rather than risk delays or a poor experience for our customers, we’ve made the difficult decision to close the web shop for now. We know this may be disappointing, and we’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused.

The good news is that Merchant Gourmet products are still widely available through the retailers our customers already shop with - including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado, Morrisons and Asda. Plus, you can browse and add your favourites directly to your Amazon basket.

We hope so! While there are no immediate plans to reopen our webshop, it’s something we’d love to explore again in the future.

For now, our focus is on making sure Merchant Gourmet products are easy to find and consistently available through the retailers our customers already shop with. If anything changes, we’ll be sure to share an update.

All recurring subscription orders will be automatically cancelled as part of the webshop closure.

You don’t need to take any action, and you won’t be charged for any future orders after 29th January. We’re really sorry for any disruption this may cause.

You can continue to enjoy your favourite Merchant Gourmet products by picking them up from your usual supermarket or adding them directly to your Amazon basket. And don’t forget - our recipe collection and newsletter are great ways to keep inspired with new ideas for your lentils, grains, beans, and more.

We do not advise reheating this product once cooked.

This product can be kept in the fridge for up to 24 hours once cooked, however we do not advise reheating.

Our frozen pouches do not use any gluten containing ingredients, therefore it is safe for gluten intolerant / coeliac consumers to eat. We do not declare a gluten free claim on this product because you would not expect gluten to be present and we do not conduct any finished product testing to support this claim.

Our frozen pouches can be recycled with bags found at front of store at large supermarkets, however they are not recycle ready at home.

You do not need to defrost our frozen Veg & Grains before cooking. For best results, put 1/2 the pack in a frying pan with a splash of water on a medium heat for 7 minutes. Alternatively, put 1/2 the pack in a microwaveable container and heat for 4 minutes on 900W.

We do not recommend cooking our frozen Veg & Grains in the oven. For best results, cook in the microwave or pan-fry.