Marmite stocks may run dry

The temporary closure of Sanitarium's Christchurch manufacturing plant could see shops run out of marmite.

Sanitarium plans to begin demolishing the plant's tower block - where marmite is produced - on Thursday, because it has been deemed an earthquake risk.

It is hoped the plant can be relocated by April, so marmite production can resume.

However, Sanitarium general manager Pierre van Heerden cannot guarantee that marmite stocks won't run dry in the meantime.

"There may be a short period that we will be out of stock of marmite, but it depends on how quickly we can move the manufacturing equipment," he told Radio New Zealand.

Mr van Heerden says distribution centres and supermarkets should have enough stock to last until mid- or late-March.

On Wednesday, Sanitarium announced it was making 36 staff redundant at the plant, which also manufactures Weet-Bix.

The plant's operations were suspended in November and 65 workers were sent home on full pay after it was decided that an earthquake-damaged tower block put staff safety at risk.

Sanitarium's other plants will produce Weet-Bix stock for the South Island.