Retailer jumps on soaring trend for ‘functional’ food as exotic mushroom moves from health food shops and pharmacies to fresh produce retail shelves
Tesco is heralding the ‘next big thing’ in exotic mushrooms with the launch of health food favourite Lion’s Mane.
With a unique shaggy texture, Lion’s Mane is usually sold in powdered form in pharmacies and health food shops, where it is said to work as an anti inflammatory, and even help prevent heart disease and dementia.
The market for so-called ‘functional’ health foods is soaring, with volume growth of 1,300 per cent in the last year, according to Nielsen data, while other exotic mushrooms have benefited from consumers looking for plant-based protein alternatives.
“In the last few years demand for exotic mushrooms, like shiitake and particularly oyster, have soared so we’re really excited to be able to offer the next big trend to our customers,” said Tesco mushroom buyer, Bobbie Fletcher.
“We know how popular Lion’s Mane have become recently as a functional mushroom in powder form sold in pharmacies but think the actual vegetable itself could now join shiitake and oyster as a culinary favourite.”
Launching in Tesco stores across the UK, at £3.75 for a 150g pack, Lion’s Mane is described as having a mildly sweeter taste than mainstream mushrooms and a tender texture, making it a versatile meat alternative in plant-based recipes.
John Dorrian, managing director of Tesco supplier and Lancashire-based Smithy Mushrooms, said he has high hopes for the mushroom after noticing its popularity in America.
“The world of culinary mushrooms has exploded in the last few years, especially with the plant-based food revolution, and particularly because of oyster mushrooms,” he said.
“Now we think Lion’s Mane could replicate what the Oyster variety has achieved especially for those seeking a tender, juicy and slightly savoury taste that is grown in the UK.”
Smithy Mushrooms opened a second growing site in 2023 to double capacity thanks to new business from retailers and the catering trade. The site, which includes facilities for producing its own substrate and spawn, increased production of shiitake and oyster production from 36 to 72 tonnes a month.
“This is a very exciting time for mushroom lovers and with our new facility we’re not only enhancing our existing range but also laying the foundation to introduce a host of new varieties in the near future,” added Dorrian.
