All yeast spreads taste the same
Marmite is the only yeast spread produced in New Zealand
Some people drink Marmite
Marmite has only ever contained yeast extract
Nothing has ever stopped the NZ production of Marmite
Americans can't get enough Marmite
Marmite's a Kiwi with a French name
Marmite helped keep POW's alive
Marmite makes excellent shoe polish
Your kids smell tasty!

All yeast spreads taste the same
Rubbish! To the discerning fan of a particular yeast spread, nothing quite compares to their favourite. If you're a Pom, you come to NZ and tell us all about how our Marmite doesn't taste like UK Marmite (which of course, it doesn't). If you're an Aussie, then you probably grew up on Vegemite (never mind) - and if you're a Kiwi, then Sanitarium Marmite is in your blood. And if you consider yourself to be a Kiwi and you're not eating Sanitarium Marmite ...? Shame, shame on you.

Marmite is the only yeast spread produced in New Zealand
True! Marmite has been proudly made in NZ since the 1940's. Vegemite first came to us from Australia and they even made it here for a while. But they have buzzed back home to Australia, where they belong.

Some people drink Marmite
True! Sanitarium used to promote Marmite as a healthy drink - just add to hot water! In the 60's in the Sanitarium staff canteen the choice of hot drinks was between Marmite, Milo or cereal based coffee. Large jugs of Marmite dissolved in hot water were just as popular as the other options (some people even added milk!)

Marmite has only ever contained yeast extract
Not so - In the 50's, truck loads of fresh carrots and onions would arrive at our Christchurch Factory. Spare staff reinforced with student labour would sit around in groups on upturned buckets in convenient places, indoors and out, and peel all of these. This lasted for two or three weeks, then the vats were filled to the brim, water added and the stew boiled for days. The resultant golden brown concentrate was packed in new 20 litre kerosene tins, some to be added to each batch of Marmite throughout the coming year. This explains why in those days, Marmite was referred to as a "Yeast and Vegetable Extract".

Nothing has ever stopped the NZ production of Marmite
False - in 1966, the Sanitarium Christchurch Factory was gutted by fire, with all departments suffering major damage. The first department back in production? Of course - the Marmite department - with the help of many local businesses who appreciated the importance and iconic status of the Marmite brand.

Americans can't get enough Marmite
Well, if this was true we'd have retired long ago with our fortunes made ... but no, from our experience there is not much demand for Marmite from the States. A common kiwi trick is to get an American visitor to try it and watch them spread it on thick like a chocolate spread or peanut butter, take a bite, and then reel in horror. Can't explain why Marmite hasn't caught on over there ...

Marmite's a Kiwi with a French name
Have to say yes to this ... a "marmite" is a French stock-pot or cooking pot (pronounced "mar-meet") used for cooking stew or gravy. Early Marmite jars featured a little pot as a logo on the packaging.

Marmite helped keep POW's alive
You bet - during the war, one young man had been a prisoner of war who had subsisted on a diet of rice, and developed beriberi (a vitamin-deficiency disease). He owed the recovery of his strength and sight to Marmite, thoughtfully dispatched to prison camps by the Red Cross. Marmite is rich in thiamin, the anti-beriberi factor.

Marmite makes excellent shoe polish
Umm ... not quite. Shortly after World War II, a solider who had been a prisoner of war told the following story: "while in prison camp, aid parcels would arrive, but their captors would supervise the unpacking of these parcels, taking anything good for themselves. When they came to Marmite, their captors would ask, “What’s this for?” The prisoners’ reply was, “Stuff to rub on your boots”. The captors would say, “You can have”, and let them keep the Marmite."

Your kids smell tasty!
Honest, this is true. Back in 1936, one of our Sanitarium representatives came in with a request from a country farmer through his storekeeper, that he (the farmer) wanted a larger tin of Marmite than the 3 lb tin. This farmer had a family of eleven children and his wife used Marmite in everything. She even rubbed the children's chests with Marmite when they had colds because she was such a believer in it ...