Countdown - both at Central Mall and Fenton St - was also out of stock.
Meanwhile, opportunists looking to capitalise on the shortage have already put jars of the yeast spread on Trade Me.
A Taupo seller has offered an unopened 500g jar of Marmite for a "buy now" price of $100, prompting mixed reaction from site visitors. Some abused the seller for being a "scalper" and "pathetic" but others entered into the spirit, asking the seller to throw in a loaf of bread, to which the seller agreed. Even so, the bidding yesterday sat at just $10.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was little interest in a Rotorua seller's "barely used" 125g jar with a best before date of May 2011. With a start price of $20, it included the dubious selling point that it had "never been finger dipped".
Marmite production was halted because of earthquake damage at Sanitarium's Christchurch plant - the only plant where it is made - and it's not expected back on shelves until mid-July.
Twitter users have suggested it was a publicity stunt after pre-prepared "Marmite is out of stock" signs were spotted in anticipation of the shortage, but Sanitarium general manager Pierre van Heerden said this was not true.
"We don't engage in that type of marketing ... there's absolutely no truth to it whatsoever."
Sanitarium had told consumers not to "freak out" as it worked to relocate its manufacturing facilities to a safer area.
Does the Marmite shortage worry you? Comment below
Other comments:
Selina Rika thanks im gonna go get me some tomorrow now hahaha
Monday at 6:26pm
Mike Tennent Vegemites better anyway!
Monday at 6:55pm
Teri Trenberth Good to Know. I live in Oz so have passed your link onto other Kiwis living here :D
Monday at 7:19pm
Kelly Stewart No. If this was causing me such worry, id need a life
Monday at 7:36pm
Jess Winter Hahahhah mum !
Monday at 7:38pm
Jen Turnbull i rather vegemite
Monday at 8:25pm
Jess Winter I dont really care aye (:
Im not a food addict and i agree with my mum.. Kelly Stewart...
Monday at 8:36pm
Diana Clare Mason Yeah Right! NZers are not capable of rationing, the Marmite lovers will be out buying up all they can 'just in case' it runs out , lol
Monday at 9:38pm
Markus Hipp The end of the world is near...... ;-))
Monday at 10:00pm
Dianne Tronell I c people r selling it on trade me for ridiculous prices. 1 small container is currently on there for $51! Pathetic. I'll have a look when im at the shop tomoro if they have any left. I think its only the big cities that will run out of stock.
Monday at 10:54pm
Laureen Pua Katene Not worried i perfer vegemite.
Monday at 11:05pm
Aroha Chivers We got heaps in Australia... Might export some to you Kiwis and make my millions that way. LOL.
Monday at 11:10pm
The Daily Post @Aroha - does that Aussie Marmite taste like Kiwi Marmite?
Yesterday at 6:16am
Markus Hipp Repco and SuperCheap have a good selection of cart grease ;-))
Yesterday at 7:14am
Dianne Tronell I havent tried the oz marmite, i usually take 1 ova with me lol. But the guy on campbell live last nite said they make it 4 austalasia. And r getting some back from oz. so it must b the same.
Yesterday at 9:56am
Aroha Chivers Use to but i like vegemite. Sorry. Blame my pregnancies for that.
Yesterday at 10:53am
Aroha Chivers And yes its imported frm nz
Yesterday at 10:54am
Nadine Katene Worh!!!! Wota dum thng to korero bowt?
15 hours ago
