Italian Canned Beans for Retail and Foodservice: Cannellini, Kidney, Butter Beans, Garbanzo and Peas

Canned beans are one of the most repeat-purchased items in any pantry aisle. Shoppers buy them every week for soups, salads, stews and quick plant-based meals, and kitchens use them daily. Imported Italian beans give an independent store a reason to choose you over the supermarket for this everyday category.

The five varieties worth stocking

Cannellini beans

Creamy white beans central to Tuscan cooking. Used in pasta e fagioli, minestrone, white bean dips and bruschetta toppings. Often the best seller of an Italian bean set.

Red kidney beans

Firm, meaty and colorful. Used in chili, bean salads, rice and beans and stews. A crossover item that appeals beyond Italian cooking.

Butter beans

Large, soft and mild. Popular in Mediterranean baked bean dishes, salads and as a side with olive oil, garlic and herbs.

Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)

The base for hummus, chickpea salads, curries and roasted snacks. Strong demand from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern shoppers.

Green peas

A staple for risotto, pasta with peas and prosciutto, and quick sides.

Merchandising tips for retailers

  • Block the set together: five varieties in the same packaging design create a visible brand block on the shelf.
  • Cross-merchandise beans next to Italian pasta and extra virgin olive oil with a simple "pasta e fagioli" recipe card.
  • Use soup season: feature beans on an endcap from October through March.
  • Pair chickpeas with tahini, olive oil and harissa for a hummus display.

Tips for restaurants and caterers

  • Cannellini and butter beans hold their shape for salads and sides.
  • Garbanzo beans work for hummus, grain bowls and fried chickpea garnishes.
  • Green peas are a quick add for risotto and pasta specials.

Néssi Italian beans and peas

Néssi Foods carries Néssi Red Kidney Beans, Cannellini Beans, Butter Beans, Green Peas and Garbanzo Beans, packed in Italy in 14.1 oz (400 g) easy-open cans, 12 cans per case. Find them in our wholesale Mediterranean pantry collection. Approved accounts see case pricing and volume tiers after login. Open a wholesale account or request samples.

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