The end of Marmegeddon

You know about Vegemite, right?  It's a by-product of beer-making.  They take the used-up yeast slurry, do... something... to it, add a whole lot of salt, and it turns into a blackish paste that is so savoury it's nearly meaty.  Some people find it revolting, but I quite like a thin spread of it on my buttered crumpet.

But Aussies can keep their veggie might because predictably Kiwis have developed their own version, called Marmite.  (There is a much older Marmite from the UK, but it's gooier and sharper and is called 'Our Mate' here due to local trademark issues.)  NZ Marmite is a beloved institution.

So the entire country was shocked last year when it suddenly disappeared from store shelves.  You see, Marmite's one and only factory was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake.  When the warehouse exhausted its supply, that was that.  With barely a whimper, Marmite was gone.

And lo, there has been great suffering and gnashing of teeth in its absence.  We were forced to feed our children yeast extracts from overseas. 

But then.  What's this that's appeared in the house?  Can it be?

Marmite.  On a pedestal!

Just as quietly as it had faded out, Marmite reappeared on store shelves last week.  And the people rejoiced.