Here’s why you can’t buy big jars of Marmite anywhere right now

Are you a marmite fan? (Photo: Shutterstock)Are you a marmite fan? (Photo: Shutterstock)
Are you a marmite fan? (Photo: Shutterstock)

Marmite is a product that you either love or hate, and there’s very little ground in between.

But fans of the yeast-based spread may have to go without for a while, as it’s currently proving hard to get hold of in the UK.

Yeast in short supply

Marmite lovers who haven’t been able to get their hands on large jars of the spread have coronavirus to blame for the current shortage.

Unilever, which owns the brand, has said it has temporarily stopped producing all pack sizes of the product, other than its small 250g jar. The brand confirmed the news on social media, stating that the temporary measure is due to brewer’s yeast (a key ingredient) being in short supply.

Responding on Twitter to a fan keen to find one of its larger 400g squeezy jars, Marmite said, “Due to brewers yeast being in short supply (one of the main ingredients in Marmite) Supplies of Marmite have been affected.

“As a temporary measure we have stopped production of all sizes apart from our 250g size jar which is available in most major retailers.”

Will the big jars be coming back?

The brand has said production levels are now back to normal, meaning fans should see the full range of jars back on supermarket shelves very shortly, including 70g, 500g, or the 400g squeezy jar.

In the meantime, the smaller 250g jar remains in production and are currently available to buy in shops.

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