Unilever ‘weaponised’ Marmite in ‘Brexit blackmail’ say furious MPs as bitter price row with Tesco saw spread stripped from supermarket shelves
Labour and Tory backbenchers joined forces to blast consumer giant for trying to 'exploit' plunge in the pound
CONSUMER giant Unilever was condemned by MPs yesterday for “weaponising” Marmite to fight the EU poll all over again.
The consumer goods giant has been accused of Brexit blackmail by furious MPs as the bitter price row with Tesco saw the yeast-based spread and Pot Noodles stripped from the shelves.
Labour and Tory backbenchers joined forces to blast the Anglo-Dutch group for trying to “exploit” the plunge in the pound to rip off customers with its 10 per cent price hike demand.
Tory David Davies said: “I’ve got half a jar of Marmite in my cupboard. I like it, but that’s where it’s going to stay.
“I’m going to switch to Vegemite as it’s from Australia, a good Commonwealth country.
“They’re not to trying to go to war with us and use a yeast extract spread as a way of refighting the EU Referendum and the Brexit decision.”
I’ve got half a jar of Marmite in my cupboard. I like it, but that’s where it’s going to stay. I'm going to switch to Vegemite as it’s from Australia, a good Commonwealth country
Tory MP David Davies
John Mann, Labour working class champion, told the Sun: “Marmite is the quintessential British product, made in Britain, sourced in Britain and it is outrageous that Unilever are using Brexit as an excuse for their profiteering.”
And punters praised Tesco for standing up to the supplier, one tweeting: “Well done.”
Tory MP Jacob Rees Mogg warned Unilever they would “alienating” millions of British shoppers.
Fellow Conservative Sir Gerald Howarth said: "I think it will be very damaging to the reputation of Unilever if they seek to use the fall in the pound to exploit the consumer.
In the House of Commons Labour's Valerie Vaz demanded the Government does everything it can to keep Marmite on supermarket shelves.
In response the Leader of House David Lidington said this morning it was "not for the Government to intervene" in a dispute between two commercial companies.
The bitter backlash came as supermarket chiefs pinned the blame for the price demand on “out of touch” Gina Boswell, the US head of Unilever UK.
The American took the role 14 months ago – after overseeing the group’s US personal care division.
Tesco chief David Lewis was president of global president care at the time.
One exec said: “Unilever has imposed a blanket 10 per cent price rise on all their goods, it bears absolutely no justification given their range of products.”
Tesco have declined to comment further, reiterating its statement late yesterday, saying it hopes to "have this issue resolved soon".
It is understood Unilever is in active discussions over price rises with the other major supermarket chains, but Tesco's fellow Big Four grocers declined to comment.
The Co-Operative also said it does not "talk openly around discussions with any supplier".
Discounter Lidl added: "Whilst we do not discuss buying prices, we can always assure our customers that we will offer them the best quality products at the lowest retail prices."