David Davies Roasted For His Solution To Tesco's Marmite Shortage

'Toast-spread fight back starts here.'
Open Image Modal
David Davies
David Jones/PA Archive

A Tory MP has sparked uproar with his novel suggestion for Britons who were mourning the loss of Marmite from their local Tesco. 

David Davies suggested people substitute the food pulled from supermarket shelves over a price hike and instead use Vegemite. 

He accused Marmite owner’s Unilever of “punishing us for Brexit” when the firm demanded a 10% price increase on all its products due to the falling value of the pound. 

But it didn’t take long for many to point out some potential flaws in Davies’ cunning plan, which included: 

1. Vegemite prices will rise too

The pound has fallen in value against most other major currencies, including the Australian Dollar - by 17.6%. That means Vegemite will cost 17.6% more to buy.

2. It confused ‘punishment’ with market forces

Unilever said it was forced to demand more money from Tesco due to the sliding value of the pound.

The British-Dutch firm supplies hundreds of products, including Hellmann’s mayonnaise, Pot Noodle and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. 

3. Business-owners have to make money

One man tackled Davies by asking what he suggested companies do if they saw their profits sliding. 

Others roasted Davies’ suggestion in a more simple manner - suggesting the Department for International Trade’s jam policy could help save the country, with others said it was not a very patriotic message.

It comes after the Leader of the House of Commons, David Lidington, revealed the government believed all the ingredients used in Marmite were made in the UK. 

The Telegraph claimed the finding “raised questions” about Unilever’s move.

“On the information I have been given this morning, the ingredients of Marmite are not imported into the United Kingdom but are manufactured and supplied here,” he told MPs on Thursday.

“And I think probably it is not for the Government to intervene in what seems to be a dispute between two commercial companies.”

NOW READ: