Marmite Shortage Means the End for Cotswold Market Snack

News
18/06/2020

A popular arancini containing Marmite and cheddar will disappear from Cirencester markets due to the national shortage of the brown sticky stuff.


The Anglo- Italian snack is one of market traders, Non Solo Pasta’s biggest sellers and the news that the breakfast staple may be no more, for the time being, has meant production of the risotto ball, arancini, may have to stop.


The economic fallout from the coronavirus has meant Marmite's manufacturer announcing it can no longer produce large jars of it. Marmite is made from yeast extract - a crucial ingredient that's a by-product of beer brewing.


Explaining that brewer's yeast was in short supply, the company confirmed that stock levels were being affected, adding:

"As a temporary measure we have stopped production of all sizes apart from our 250g size jar which is available in most major retailers."


Non Solo Pasta, based in Cirencester has a focus on Italian street food. Founded by Matteo Conte, from Rome, and Clara Cardillo from Minturno, a little village on the coast between Rome and Naples, they started selling authentic Italian food at the Farmers Market in Cirencester, it was there that a regular visitor to the stall who came up with the idea to combine Marmite and Cheddar.


“We have lots of traditional Italian flavours, bolognese and peas as the traditional arancino in Italy, pesto& mozzarella, white truffle oil peas and mushrooms, and our Caponata, which is completely vegan but decided to give this crazy idea a try. Many have tried and come back for it, it is a unique flavour, something that we do not have in Italy, Matteo said. “I think some try it out of intrigue, I guess you either love it or you hate it.”


The couple also now run a frozen Italian food business called Frittoli that sells their arancini creations in Co-Op stores across Gloucestershire.