Costco brings British staple to the shelves — and Los Angelenos are going wild

Costco has started stocking cans of Heinz baked beans made with the British recipe, and the grocery development has sent some LA expats into full-blown celebration mode.

The warehouse giant has officially started stocking Heinz British Recipe Baked Beanz — a blue-labeled tin that either requires a trip across the pond or a hefty import make-up to obtain.

For Brits living in California, the beans are more than just another pantry item — they’re the key ingredient to one of the United Kingdom’s most beloved comfort foods: beans on toast.

“Jubilations to the sky!” wrote Suzanne Levy for LAist, capturing the excited energy of a community that treats a legume in tomato sauce like a religious relic.

The dish — exactly what it sounds like — is a staple in Britain, typically served as a quick meal or snack with baked beans spooned over buttered toast. To many Americans, it sounds like a strange carb-on-carb concoction. But to Brits, it’s practically sacred.

With Costco slinging six-packs for $8.99 online — roughly $1.50 a can — the deal is a steal.

For generations, beans on toast has been a go-to meal thanks to its simplicity and affordability — something families relied on dating back to wartime rationing in the U.K.  

“Beans on toast is our mac and cheese,” Levy explained, calling it a nostalgic comfort food that many Brits grow up eating.  

The excitement also comes down to the flavor difference. British baked beans are simmered in a lighter tomato sauce and are notably less sweet than the American version, which is typically thicker and loaded with sugar.