Origins & Invention (1902-1920)

The birth of Marmite: Justus von Liebig's discovery of yeast extract, the establishment of the Marmite Food Company in 1902, and the early years in Burton-on-Trent.

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Marmite is a French word, and the jar used to be a pot

Marmite is a French word, and the jar used to be a pot

The pronunciation argument has been running for at least a hundred years. "Mar-meet" is the original French, and is, technically, correct. "Mar-might" is the British naturalisation, and is what almost everyone in Britain actually says. Both are now acceptable.

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How Marmite was invented, by a German chemist and a Burton brewery

How Marmite was invented, by a German chemist and a Burton brewery

Justus von Liebig was one of the most important nineteenth-century chemists, a founder of modern organic chemistry, the namesake of the Liebig condenser still found in every undergraduate lab, and a serial inventor of food products.

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Burton-on-Trent, where the Marmite actually comes from

Burton-on-Trent, where the Marmite actually comes from

The Marmite factory has been on the same Burton-on-Trent site since 1902. It was not, you will be relieved to hear, chosen at random.

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Marmite makes it to 100

Unlike the Queen mother, you either love Marmite or you hate it. However, as the Queen mum seems to have pushed through the 100 year barrier with ease, perhaps we should take the time to congratulate Marmite on achieving the same magnificent anniversary.

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A short history of Marmite: 1902 to today, in twelve key dates

A short history of Marmite: 1902 to today, in twelve key dates

It begins, as a lot of British food does, with a by-product nobody wanted. In 1902, a small group of investors paid £100 a year to rent a disused malt house in Burton-on-Trent and started a company called the Marmite Food Company Limited. Burton was the centre of the British brewing industry.

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