Supplying shop shelves with Marmite should be restored by December following an alcohol-related shortage of brewer’s yeast, a key ingredient of the sandwich spread.
According to producer and distributor Pioneer Foods, making Marmite had to take a backseat to Bovril because of the impact of South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
Writing for TimesLive, Hilary Biller reports that because no beer was being produced, not enough yeast was available since the latter is a byproduct of the former.
According to Pioneer “yeast supply was constrained with the alcohol ban during lockdown and the production of Bovril (which uses significantly less yeast to produce) was prioritised”.
In addition, the shortage of another ingredient used to make Marmite, which is not mentioned in the report, contributed to its disappearance from stores.
Although stocks of the product are being restored since South Africans are allowed to buy beer again, Marmite availability will most likely take the better part of October and November before its supply is spread throughout the country once more.