Britain Panics Over Brexit-Sparked Marmite Shortage

WORLD UNITED KINGDOM Britain Panics Over Brexit-Sparked Marmite Shortage

Tesco pulled a range of products from its website following a pricing row with Unilever

News that a major British supermarket will no longer be stocking Marmite following Brexit has sparked outrage across the U.K., leading the hashtag #MarmiteGate to trend on Twitter.

Tesco pulled a range of products, including Marmite, PG Tips tea bags, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Persil washing powder and Lynx body spray, from its website after a row over pricing with the major food and household goods supplier Unilever.

According to The Guardian, Unilever is trying to charge Tesco an extra 10% for its goods due to the pound’s fall against the euro and the dollar following the vote for Brexit in June. Graeme Pitkethly, Unilever’s chief financial officer, described these price increases as a “normal” part of business. “We are taking price increases in the UK. That is a normal devaluation-led cycle,” he told analysts.

Promoted

Recommended by

Nick Sutton 12 Oct @suttonnick Down to the last three jars of Marmite at a local Tesco pic.twitter.com/DJVm6lhGhC

Nick Sutton Follow @suttonnick

Only two jars of Marmite left this morning. #marmitewatch pic.twitter.com/T8NIHpKpda 6:20 AM - 13 Oct 2016

44 47

Marmite fans have not taken the news well, packing social media full of photos of shelves being emptied of the “love it or hate it” yeast spread. Tubs of Marmite have even gone on sale on eBay for up to £4million ($4.78 million)—although no bids have been placed so far.

One of the Marmite jars for sale is described as “Rare 2016 genuine retail Marmite jar (unopened).” The product description reads: “One of the last remaining examples of this fabled product in private hands. Unsealed, it is in the same condition it was when it was plucked from the supermarket shelf. Little did I know it would be the last Marmite I ever bought – and now, you, too, can buy your last ever Marmite.”

/dev/null Follow @smbthomas

Don't know why everyone is complaining, it was on the battlebus#Marmite #Marmitegate #Brexit 10:29 PM - 12 Oct 2016 99 118

Phill JD Follow @Digital_PhillJD

Clearly the #Marmite struggle is real for someone riding my train this morning! #Brexit #Marmitegate 5:33 AM - 13 Oct 2016 1,085 1,493

Zorro P Freely Follow @banalyst

"What did Marmite taste like father?" 7:23 PM - 12 Oct 2016 1,494 1,784