Marmitegate

English

Etymology

From Marmite +‎ -gate.

Proper noun

Marmitegate

1. (UK, informal) A 2016 controversy in which Marmite and related products had their prices increased by the manufacturer, blamed on a fall in the pound after Brexit, and leading to the temporary withdrawal of those products from Tesco supermarkets.
   • 2016 October 20, Martinne Geller, “Unilever's 'Marmitegate' shows strain on consumer industry”, in Reuters UK:

     The day “Marmitegate” dominated the front pages of British newspapers, the company reported a 3.2 percent rise in quarterly sales - with a 0.4 percent drop in the number of goods sold comfortably offset by a 3.6 percent increase in prices.

   • 2016 November 17, “Tesco chief warns brands not to make UK shoppers pay for weak pound”, in The Guardian:

     In his first comments since last month’s “Marmitegate” stand-off, Dave Lewis said consumers should not be asked to pay “inflated prices” due to fluctuations in currencies, such as the post-referendum slump in the pound.

   • 2017 January 26, Zlata Rodionova, “Brexit: Unilever boss says Britain should 'get used to' price rises after slump of pound sterling”, in The Independent:

     The chief executive of Unilever, the consumer goods giant at the centre of Marmitegate, said Britain should “get used to” price rises triggered by a slump in the pound after the Brexit vote.

   • 2018 December 15, “Sainsbury's and ASDA plan joint assault on suppliers”, in Telegraph:

     Sainsbury’s and Asda are preparing a joint assault on the grocery industry’s biggest suppliers if their blockbuster merger is approved, in a move that will revive memories of the Marmitegate price row between Tesco and Unilever.