Yes, it is that bad. In case you have been overseas or simply like your toast plain, there is a shortage of Marmite in Hawke's Bay and the rest of the country.
It seems as if Sanitarium's only plant producing the black gold is inChristchurch and it has been forced to close because the building has some earthquake damage. Some would say the reaction has been a tad over the top. Even Prime Minister John Key has admitted that he is making sure the jar in his office lasts longer, although - shock, horror - he says he doesn't mind eating that arguably inferior Aussie version Vegemite.
There are many ways to view this catastrophe. One could say the whole country is on a knife edge and while Marmite may not yet be toast, supplies are spread thin.
Seriously though, who would have thought that a hiccup in the production of a breakfast spread would affect our lives so much. A quick glance at Trade Me shows more than 50 jars of Marmite for sale, with one optimistic person asking $800 for a 250g jar. So far, $60 is the highest bid to reach reserve, which is still crazy. The way things are going, it will soon be cheaper to spread Bluff oysters on your toast.
Are we such creatures of habit that we get unsettled when our routine is disrupted? Do we really think Marmite tastes good or do we simply like it because it is Kiwi-made?
I must admit to feeling some low level frustration on Saturday when I searched in vain for that familiar red and black bottle on my supermarket shelf. I was tempted to buy Vegemite, but I actually don't like it that much. I thought that being fresh from Auckland, I probably wasn't looking in the right place. I soon realised it was a countrywide problem.
And the future looks bleak (or should I say black) with Sanitarium saying Marmite would not be back on shelves until mid-July.
Can we last that long without it? Or is it a storm in a tea cup and we will soon have a new crisis like Coronation Street moving to an earlier time slot again to fixate on?
