[danielf]

http://news.yahoo.com/marmageddon-ze...060117216.html

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — It's a sticky black sandwich spread that much of New Zealand adores, though detractors liken it to axle grease. And when it runs out, it's Marmageddon.
The manufacturer of Marmite says its supplies of the yeast-extract product ran out this week, four months after earthquakes forced it to close the only factory that made New Zealand's version.
"Don't freak. We will be back soon!" the company, Sanitarium, says on the Marmite website. But there are signs of freaking in this country of 4.4 million people, which eats its way through 640 metric tons of the savory spread every year.
"I can confirm there was a rush on Marmite yesterday," Antoinette Shallue, spokeswoman for the grocery chain Foodstuffs, said in an email. "Clearly Kiwis took the news of the impending shortage very seriously!"
Some are calling the crisis "Marmageddon." Others are auctioning their supplies of Marmite online. Even the country's leader sounds concerned.

I suppose it must be nice to not have more pressing things to worry about