The British royal coat of arms is one of the most copied marks of trust in the world, and much of that copying happens far from Britain, on products that never went near a palace. Why a royal crest is worth faking abroad, the international law meant to stop it, and why enforcement is so patchy the fakes keep coming.
Marmite Articles
Explore our collection of articles about Marmite, Britain's most divisive spread.
Showing articles tagged with: unilever | View all articles
By Appointment: the fascinating story of what a royal warrant really is, and how Marmite won one and lost it
A royal warrant is the little coat of arms in the shop window with the words 'By Appointment'. Marmite earned its own in 2016, lost it when Queen Elizabeth II died, and was quietly dropped from King Charles's list in December 2024. What a warrant actually is, how a business wins and loses one, and why the system has spent nearly two centuries chasing fakes, told from a walk away from Sandringham.
Who owns Marmite? (and who will after the McCormick deal)
Marmite is owned by Unilever, and has been for years. In March 2026 Unilever agreed to sell its food business, Marmite included, to the American firm McCormick, a deal set to complete around mid-2027. Until it closes, Marmite remains a Unilever brand.
Marmite at 125, with a new American owner in the room
Marmite turns 125 in 2027, just as McCormick takes over. What a serious anniversary year should look like, and what we should probably expect instead.
Every Marmite-flavoured snack on UK shelves: crisps, popcorn, peanuts, rice cakes and the rest
Every Marmite-flavoured snack on UK shelves in 2026: Walkers crisps, Joe & Seph's popcorn, KP peanuts, the discontinued Special K cereal and Cadbury chocolate, and what the licensing strategy tells you about the brand.
The British press has the Burton-Marmite story wrong
Since 31 March 2026, when McCormick & Company announced its agreement to combine with Unilever's foods business, the British press has been telling one version of the Marmite-McCormick story. The version goes roughly like this: The Americans have bought our Marmite.
What the McCormick deal means for Burton-on-Trent
What McCormick's vague 'long-term manufacturing agreement' really means for the 240 jobs in Burton, and why the Cadbury precedent should worry us.
"You can't sell Marmite to the Americans": Britain has a quiet meltdown
Britain has sold off cars, banks, and football clubs without much fuss. Marmite, it turns out, is the line. A look at why the row is louder than the deal.
McCormick buys Marmite, and the rest of Unilever's pantry
Unilever sells its food business, including Marmite, Hellmann's, and Knorr, to McCormick for $45 billion. The end of a 26-year ownership.
Marmite vs Bovril: what is the difference between the two brown jars?
Marmite and Bovril are both dark, salty British savoury pastes owned by Unilever, and people mix them up. The difference that matters: Marmite is yeast extract (vegan and vegetarian); Bovril is beef extract and is not. One is for spreading, one for drinking.
Page 1 of 3
Next »
