Mr Paul Polman, CEO, Marmite
Uniliver UK Ltd
Springfield Drive
Leatherhead
KT22 7GR
25 June 2011

Dear Mr Polman
The Danes aren’t the only ones who are revolting. Can you please explain why the price of marmite has gone up to £4.98 at Asda today?

I’ve been weaned on Marmite, so have my children – but there’s going to be riots (or at least a singular and very targeted protest outside Asda or your HQ) very soon unless you stop these increases to your retailers. ‘Onward Marmite Soldiers’, as the song goes….

Anything over a fiver for a pot and (sorry), the dog, cat and maybe even the wife will have to go. Please explain this pricing dilemma. Such is the level of our dependency that it’s a matter of brewer’s yeast or brewer’s droop in this house, frankly.

You clearly don’t want people to contact you or understand what’s going on at Marmite…have you seen your website? One little visual. www.marmite.com So your marketing team come up with a one-page website and one strap line every three years. Do they convince you that they’re busy with DM, SM, etc. and still cannot build a decent website explaining your pricing policy? (I think you’re paying them too much.)

I notice in ES – 9 May 2011, You either love it or hate it, but at Battersea, Marmite is causing quite a stir amongst the dogs. Jars of the yeast extract, which has polarised the nation into lovers and haters, are polished off in no time by Battersea’s canine residents who have developed quite a taste for the spread. Today 100 of the famous yellow topped brown glass jars will set tails wagging in the kennels when they are delivered to London’s popular dog’s home.

Please explain why you’re going to the dogs as it’s causing quite a stir in Basingstoke, too. My tail is far from wagging.

Unless you take home a car boot full of marmite freebies every now and then, I bet your wife is livid, too. (I hope she won’t get recognised when out shopping or you’ll be hearing from her, I’m sure.)

At best, you’re at risk of serious customer defection to any another up-and-coming savoury that may be lurking in the bottom of a vat or tank somewhere.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Sampson