Marmite addicts finally get their fix

After months of having jam on her toast, Teresa Wairoa is one happy lady.

The Rotorua woman was yesterday heading home to tuck into a Marmite sandwich after months of going without her favourite topping.

She was one of the Rotorua people heading to supermarkets early yesterday to stock up on Marmite when it hit the shelves again.

The breakfast spread has been missing from shops since early last year after the February 2011 earthquake damaged Sanitarium's Christchurch factory.

Stores have been able to sell Marmite since midnight.

On toast, in sandwiches with lettuce and tomato, and even in stews - Ms Wairoa reckons there's nothing quite like the yeasty spread.

She said she was so busy when she heard Marmite was going out of stock that she didn't think to stock up.

Her existing stash lasted her about a month, spread very thinly to give her that Marmite hit.

"No one was allowed to touch it. I had little wee scrapes."

Comments on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page were mixed - with some Vegemite fans and others who had converted to the opposition spread after it took so long for Marmite to return to shelves.

Others were hanging out for its return.

"I went to the shop and got Marmite this morning and just finished eating some on fresh Vienna bread. Sooo good I waited till my girl went to school then went straight to get in."

Sanitarium general manager Pierre van Heerden said 500,000 jars had been made and he hoped that would meet demand.

He said it was difficult to predict where people would shop so some areas might sell out.