How long has Marmite been around, who first introduced it on to the market.?

Answer 1

The basic raw material used in the manufacture of MARMITE is spent brewer's yeast, a substance whose original and only use was to ferment sugars into alcohol. For many years this by-product of the brewing process was seen as a nuisance rather than potentially valuable food source. However in 1680, a Dutch scientist, Leouwenhoek, examined this yeast under a microscope and saw that it was composed of tiny spherical and ovoid cells. The French scientist, Louis Pasteur, realised that these cells were in fact living plants. Further investigation by a German chemist, Leibig, found that this yeast could be made into a concentrated food product, which resembled extract of meat in appearance, smell and colour, however was vegetarian.

A number of people tried to manufacture this yeast extract for commercial purposes, but with little success. This changed in 1902, when the Marmite Food Company Limited, was formed. This company was committed to producing a perfected form of yeast extract for popular consumption. They rented a disused malt house in Burton-on-Trent for the modest sum of 100.00 pounds a year and set to work.

However, it was found that the yeast they were producing from British beer did not lend itself to the same treatment of continental yeast where methods of fermentation were markedly different. New machinery had to be brought in and a series of changes in the manufacturing process were implemented before a satisfactory yeast extract product was ready to market.

It took time to bowl over the British public with the distinctive taste of MARMITE. Gradually however, the business expanded. The freehold of the malt house was purchased and operations were extended to meet growing demand. Eventually a second site was obtained in London, and the company consolidated production at a new green field site at Burton-on-Trent.

The discovery of vitamins in 1912, boosted the popularity of MARMITE, when it was realised that yeast provided a good source of five B vitamins. Its healthy proposition meant that greater quantities of MARMITE were consumed in hospitals, schools and institutions, with tons dispatched to war-torn counties overseas. During both the World Wars, MARMITE was served to soldiers on military duty and was used to combat outbreaks of beri-beri and other diseases. During the Second World War, MARMITE became a valued dietary supplement in prisoner-of-war camps.

Both the MARMITE product and packaging have undergone few changes since the turn of the century. MARMITE stock cubes were launched in a distinctive green tin during the 1920's, but this brand extension was eventually dropped to concentrate on the increasingly popular paste product.

Since 1934, following the death of the first chairman of the company that produced MARMITE, both the MARMITE and BOVRIL brands have enjoyed a close association, leading to Marmite Limited becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bovril Limited. Further changes of ownership ensued and in 1990, CPC (United Kingdom) Limited took over both the BOVRIL and MARMITE brands.

Answer 2

The Marmite Food Extract Company was formed in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, in 1902, with Marmite as its main product. By 1907, the product had become successful enough to warrant construction of a second factory at Camberwell Green in London. Today, the main ingredients of Marmite manufactured in the UK are yeast extract, with lesser quantities of sodium chloride (common salt), vegetable extract, niacin, thiamine, spice extracts, riboflavin, folic acid, and celery extracts, although the precise composition is a trade secret. By 1912, the discovery of vitamins was a boost for Marmite, as the spread is a rich source of the vitamin B complex; vitamin B12 is not naturally found in yeast extract, but is added to Marmite during manufacture.
In 1990, Marmite Limited—which had become a subsidiary of Bovril Limited—was bought by CPC (United Kingdom) Limited, which changed its name to Best Foods Inc in 1998. Best Foods Inc subsequently merged with Unilever in 2000, and Marmite is now a trademark owned by Unilever.
Marmite's publicity campaigns initially emphasised the spread's healthy nature, extolling it as "The growing up spread you never grow out of". During the 1980s, the spread was advertised with the slogan "My mate, Marmite", delivered in television commercials by an army platoon (the spread had been a standard vitamin supplement for British-based German POWs during the Second World War). By the 1990s, another strand entered the company's marketing efforts; Marmite's distinctive and powerful taste had earned it as many detractors as it had fans, and it was commonly notorious for producing a binary and exclusive "love/hate" reaction amongst consumers. Modern advertisements play on this, and Marmite runs two websites, I Love Marmite and I Hate Marmite, where people may share their experiences of Marmite.

Answer 3

It was first invented in 1680, but not sold as Marmite until 1902. Check out their website for more history of Marmite http://www.marmite.com/love/history/ I love it by the way.

Answer 4

more than 26yrs