Who Owns Marmite?
Marmite is owned by Unilever, a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods corporation. Invented in 1902 by the Marmite Food Extract Company in Burton upon Trent, Marmite became part of Unilever in 2000 when Unilever merged with Best Foods Inc. The brand has been part of Unilever's portfolio for over 25 years and is known for its distinctive yeast extract spread and iconic "Love it or Hate it" marketing.
Parent Company
Unilever plc
Acquired
2000
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
Who Owns Marmite?
- Parent Company: Unilever plc
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2000
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: LSE: ULVR
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Marmite | Unilever plc | Wholly owned |
History of Marmite
- Founded: 1902
- Founders: Marmite Food Extract Company
- Acquired by Unilever plc: 2000
The first yeast extract spread was invented during the late 19th century when German scientist Justus von Liebig discovered that brewer's yeast could be concentrated, bottled and eaten. Initial attempts to manufacture this yeast extract for commercial purposes had little success until 1902, when the Marmite Food Extract Company was formed in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England.
The by-product yeast needed for the paste was supplied by Bass Brewery. The initial producers found that the yeast produced from British beer did not lend itself to the same treatment as continental yeast, requiring new machinery and manufacturing processes before a satisfactory yeast extract product was ready for market.
By 1907, the product had become successful enough to warrant construction of a second factory at Camberwell Green in London. In 1912, the discovery of vitamins was a significant boost for Marmite, as the spread is a rich source of the vitamin B complex. With vitamin B1 deficiency beriberi being common during World War I, the spread became more popular and was issued to British troops as part of their rations.
During the 1930s, Marmite was used by English haematologist Lucy Wills to successfully treat a form of anaemia in mill workers in Bombay (present-day Mumbai), British India. She later identified folic acid as the active ingredient. Marmite was also used to treat malnutrition during the 1934-35 malaria epidemic in British Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka).
In 1990, Marmite Limited, which had become a subsidiary of Bovril Limited, was bought by CPC International Inc., which changed its name to Best Foods Inc in 1998. Best Foods Inc subsequently merged with Unilever in 2000, and Marmite is now a trademark owned by Unilever.
About Unilever plc
What does Unilever own?
Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing (Dove, Vaseline, TRESemme, Pond's), Personal Care (Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lux, Lifebuoy, Close Up), Home Care (Domestos, Cif, Surf, Omo, Comfort), and Nutrition (Knorr, Hellmann's, Lipton, Marmite). Following the 2025 demerger of its Ice Cream business, Unilever no longer owns Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, or Breyers. The company also owns approximately 61% of Hindustan Unilever Limited, a publicly listed subsidiary in India.
Is Unilever publicly traded?
Yes, Unilever plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker ULVR and on Euronext Amsterdam under ticker UNA. American Depositary Receipts are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker UL. The company does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom.
Who founded Unilever?
Unilever was formed in 1929 through the merger of Lever Brothers, a British soap company founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1885, and Margarine Unie, a Dutch margarine producer formed through the merger of the Jurgens and Van den Bergh companies in 1927. The founders of the predecessor companies include William Lever, James Darcy Lever, Antonius Johannes Jurgens, and Samuel van den Bergh.
Where is Unilever headquartered?
Unilever is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company's registered office and principal executive offices are located in London. Unilever simplified its dual-listed structure in 2020, consolidating its legal headquarters in the United Kingdom and ending the separate Unilever N.V. Dutch entity. The company's shares continue to trade on both the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Amsterdam.
How many brands does Unilever own?
Unilever owns a portfolio of over 400 brands across four business groups: Beauty and Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, and Nutrition. The company's largest brands by revenue include Dove, Hellmann's, Knorr, Axe/Lynx, Rexona/Sure, Lipton, Vaseline, Domestos, and Cif. Following the 2025 demerger of its Ice Cream business, Unilever's portfolio no longer includes ice cream brands such as Magnum, Walls, Ben & Jerry's, and Breyers.
Who owns Unilever?
Unilever plc is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and index funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in Unilever. Fernando Fernandez serves as CEO, having been appointed in March 2025 following the departure of Hein Schumacher. The company's board includes a majority of independent non-executive directors.
- Founded: 1929
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: LSE: ULVR
Where Is Marmite Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
- Manufacturing / Operations: Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, UK, Global Unilever facilities
Brands Owned by Unilever plc
- Axe - Male grooming brand owned by Unilever, known for body spray and deodorant produc...
- Ben & Jerry's - American ice cream company known for unique flavors and social activism, owned b...
- Best Foods - American mayonnaise and condiment brand owned by Unilever, known as Hellmann's e...
- Bovril - Heritage British beef extract brand owned by Unilever, invented in 1870 and know...
- Brooke Bond - British tea brand owned by Unilever, known for Red Label and PG Tips tea product...
- Cif - Global cleaning products brand owned by Unilever, launched in 1969 and known for...
- Clear - Global anti-dandruff shampoo and scalp care brand owned by Unilever, launched in...
- Close-Up - Global oral care brand owned by Unilever, launched in 1967 as the world's first ...
- Comfort - Global fabric softener brand owned by Unilever, launched in 1969 as the world's ...
- Degree - North American deodorant and antiperspirant brand owned by Unilever, the US bran...
- Domestos - British household cleaning brand owned by Unilever, known for its bleach-based t...
- Dove - Personal care brand owned by Unilever, known for beauty bars and skincare produc...
- Hellmann's - American mayonnaise and condiment brand owned by Unilever, known as Best Foods w...
- HelloFresh - Meal kit delivery service brand owned by Unilever, providing pre-portioned ingre...
- Knorr - German food brand owned by Unilever, specializing in soups, seasonings, and read...
- Lancôme - Luxury beauty brand owned by Unilever, known for premium skincare, makeup, and f...
- Lifebuoy - Heritage health and hygiene soap brand owned by Unilever, created in 1894 as a c...
- Lipton - Global tea brand primarily owned by Lipton Teas and Infusions (CVC Capital Partn...
- Lux - Global beauty soap and body wash brand owned by Unilever, known as the world's f...
- Magnum - Premium ice cream brand owned by Unilever, known for chocolate-coated ice cream ...
- Maizena - Global corn starch brand owned by Unilever, founded in 1856 and used as a versat...
- Noxzema - American skincare brand owned by Unilever, founded in 1914 and known for its med...
- Omo - Global laundry detergent brand owned by Unilever, launched in the 1950s and Unil...
- Pepsodent - Global toothpaste brand owned by Unilever outside North America, founded in 1915...
- PG Tips - British tea brand owned by Unilever, known for its pyramid tea bags and advertis...
- Pond's - Global skincare brand owned by Unilever, founded in 1846 as a patent medicine an...
- Pot Noodle - British instant noodle brand owned by Unilever, known for its quick preparation ...
- Rexona - Global deodorant and antiperspirant brand owned by Unilever, founded in Australi...
- Seventh Generation - Plant-based cleaning, laundry, and personal care brand committed to sustainabili...
- Simple - Skincare brand owned by Unilever, known for gentle, dermatologist-tested product...
- St. Ives - American skincare brand owned by Unilever, known for its natural ingredient form...
- Sunsilk - Global hair care brand owned by Unilever, launched in 1954 in the United Kingdom...
- Surf - Global laundry detergent brand owned by Unilever, launched in 1953 and known for...
- TRESemmé - Global salon-quality hair care brand owned by Unilever, founded in 1947 and know...
- Vaseline - American petroleum jelly and skincare brand owned by Unilever, known for its hea...
- Wall's - Ice cream brand owned by Unilever, known for ice cream bars, cones, and frozen t...
Marmite Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Over 120 years of heritage as a British food icon backed by Unilever's extensive R&D investment
- +Strong brand recognition and iconic "Love it or Hate it" marketing positioning
- +Rich source of B vitamins and nutritional benefits
- +Global distribution through Unilever's established retail channels
- +Premium quality assurance supported by corporate resources and traditional brewing methods
Considerations
- -Polarizing taste profile limits market appeal to specific consumer segments
- -Competition from other yeast extract spreads and similar products
- -Dependency on Unilever's supply chain and corporate policies
- -Environmental impact of packaging and brewing by-product utilization
- -Need to adapt to changing consumer preferences for natural and traditional foods
Frequently Asked Questions About Marmite
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Marmite on AmazonCompetitors to Marmite
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Marmiteoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Unilever plc Stock Information
Jobs at Unilever plc
Latest News About Marmite
Related Articles About Marmite
View more articles
Monthly M&A Roundup: February 2026 Brand Ownership Changes
From Keurig Dr Pepper's planned split to the Netflix-WBD saga, here is every major brand ownership change and deal in February 2026.
The Most Acquired Categories: Tech vs CPG vs Pharma
Which industries see the most brand acquisitions? We compared technology, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals to find out where the most M&A activity happens and why.
50 Brands You Didn't Know Were Owned by the Same Company
From Dove soap and Hellmann's mayo to PlayStation and Columbia Pictures, these 50 brand pairs share a corporate parent that might surprise you.
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Food & Beverage category and related searches from other users.
7 Up
American lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink brand known for its crisp, clean taste and caffeine-free formula.
AHA
Flavored sparkling water brand owned by The Coca-Cola Company, offering zero-calorie hydration with natural flavors.
Annie's
American brand of organic and natural food products including mac and cheese, snacks, and baking mixes.