The Story of Vegemite

The story of Vegemite

began with the Fred Walker
Company in 1922. They
wanted to create a spread
with plenty of Vitamin
B. The company hired a
chemist called Dr Cyril P.
Callister. It was he who
developed the spread.
They wanted lots of people to buy their new product, so the
company let the public name it themselves. They launched a
national competition. In 1923, the product was named Vegemite.
Soon, jars of Vegemite were being sold all over the country.
At the same time, there was a similar product from England
known as ‘Marmite’. Shoppers didn’t want to try something
different and Vegemite sales dropped. The company renamed it
to ‘Parwill’ with a clever catchphrase to go with it: “If Marmite…
then Parwill”! However, sales did not improve.
It took 14 years and a change back to its original name before
the people of Australia embraced Vegemite. Doctors began
recommending it and during the Second World War, the armed
forces sent it to the soldiers. It became so popular that the
company couldn’t meet the demands of the public.
The company also created the song ‘Happy Little Vegemites’, which
was released on the radio in 1954. It went onto the television in
1956. Even today, the song is easily recognised, with Vegemite
putting ‘a rose in every cheek’.

Photo courtesy of (Tristanb@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

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 The Story of Vegemite

Did You Know…?

• Twenty-two million jars of Vegemite are sold every year.
• It has a thick and sticky consistency and is almost
black in colour.
• Being one of the richest known sources of Vitamin B,
it is very salty.
Australians are used to the flavour of Vegemite, as they grow up
eating it. When travelling overseas, some people even take it with
them as a small reminder of home. However, adults who try it for
the first time say that it is something that takes a little getting
used to!

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 The Story of Vegemite

Questions
1. Fill in the blanks:
The name of the company that created Vegemite was the F
W C .
2. Who developed the recipe for Vegemite? 

3. What year was the Vegemite naming competition held? 


4. What was the name of the product that was very similar to Vegemite?

5. How many jars of Vegemite are sold each year? 

6. How long did it take to change the name back to Vegemite? 

7. Who did the armed forces send the Vegemite to during the Second
World War? 

8. Fill in the blanks:
Vegemite has a and consistency and is almost
in colour.

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 The Story of Vegemite

The story of Vegemite Answers

1. The name of the company that created Vegemite was the
Fred Walker Company.
2. Who developed the recipe for Vegemite?
Dr Cyril P. Callister
3. What year was the Vegemite naming competition held?
1923
4. What was the name of the product that was very similar to Vegemite?
Marmite
5. How many jars of Vegemite are sold each year?
Twenty-two million
6. How long did it take to change the name back to Vegemite?
14 years
7. Who did the armed forces send the Vegemite to during the
Second World War?
Soldiers
8. Vegemite has a thick and sticky consistency and is almost
black in colour.
 The Story of Vegemite
The story of how Vegemite
was invented began in
1922 with the Fred Walker
Company. They wanted to
create a spread from one of
the world’s richest known
sources of Vitamin B. The
company, which was later
known as the Kraft Food
Company, hired a chemist known as Dr Cyril P. Callister. It was
he who developed the spread, using leftover brewers’ yeast extract
and various vegetable and spice additives.
The Fred Walker Company came up with the very clever idea of
having the public name the spread themselves. They launched
a competition right across Australia, and in 1923 the winning
entry was announced. ‘Vegemite’ was to be its name! By the end
of 1923, jars of Vegemite were being sold all over the country.
Unfortunately, a similar product from England known as ‘Marmite’
was already very popular in Australia. Shoppers weren’t keen to
try something different and Vegemite sales dropped. They decided
to call it a different name to try to convince people to buy it. It
became known as ‘Parwill’, with a clever catchphrase to go with
it: “If Marmite…then Parwill”! Even with this new strategy, sales
did not improve.
It took the Fred Walker Company 14 years to change Vegemite
back to its original name before the people of Australia would
embrace it. Doctors began recommending it as a rich source
of Vitamin B and during the Second World War, the armed

Photo courtesy of (Tristanb@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Page 1 of 3
 The Story of Vegemite

forces were buying it to send by Australians of all different

to the soldiers. It became so ages, at any time of the day.
popular that it even had to Twenty-two million jars are
be rationed, as the company sold every year. It has a thick
couldn’t meet demands. and sticky consistency and is
almost black in colour. Being
Another clever advertising tool
one of the richest known sources
that was used was the creation
of Vitamin B, it is very salty.
o f t he son g ‘Happy Li ttle
Australians are used to the
Vegemites’, which was released
flavour, as they grow up eating
on the radio in 1954. It became
it. When travelling overseas,
a television commercial two
some people even take it with
years later and was aired right
them as a small reminder of
through the 1960s. Even today,
home. However, adults who try
the song is easily recognised,
it for the first time say that it
with Vegemite putting ‘a rose
is something that takes a little
in every cheek’.
getting used to!
Vegemite has gone on to become
a food source that is loved

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 The Story of Vegemite

Questions
1. The Fred Walker Company went on to be known as what?

2. Who developed the recipe for Vegemite? 

3. What were the ingredients for Vegemite? 


4. What was the name of the song sung in the advertisement about
Vegemite?

5. What year was Vegemite being sold for the first time? 

6. What was the name of the product that was very similar to Vegemite? 

7. What happened after the company couldn’t meet demands of the spread? 

8. Why is Vegemite good for you?


9. Name the two very important groups who supported the buying
of Vegemite.

10. Have you ever tried Vegemite? If so, what was it like? If not, does
this text make it sound good?



Page 3 of 3
 The Story of Vegemite

The story of Vegemite Answers

1. The Fred Walker Company went on to be known as what?
The Kraft Food Company
2. Who developed the recipe for Vegemite?
Dr Cyril P. Callister
3. What were the ingredients for Vegemite?
Leftover brewers’ yeast, vegetable and spice additives
4. What was the name of the song sung in the advertisement
about Vegemite?
‘Happy Little Vegemites’
5. What year was Vegemite being sold for the first time?
1923
6. What was the name of the product that was very similar to Vegemite?
Marmite
7. What happened after the company couldn’t meet demands of the spread?
It had to be rationed
8. Why is Vegemite good for you?
Because it is one of the richest sources of Vitamin B.
9. Name the two very important groups who supported the
buying of Vegemite.
Doctors and the armed forces
10. Have you ever tried Vegemite? If so, what was it like? If not, does
this text make it sound good?
Answers may vary.
 The Story of Vegemite
The story of how Vegemite
was invented all began
with the Fred Walker
Company in 1922. They
were interested in creating
a spread from one of the
world’s richest known
sources of Vitamin B. The
company, which soon
became known as the Kraft Food Company, hired a very clever
chemist known as Dr Cyril P. Callister. It was Dr Callister who
developed the spread, using leftover brewers’ yeast extract and
various vegetable and spice additives.
As they wanted lots of people to buy their new product, the Fred
Walker Company came up with the very clever idea of having the
public name it themselves. They launched a national competition
right across Australia, and in 1923 the winning entry was
announced. ‘Vegemite’ was to be its name! By 1923, jars of
Vegemite were being sold in supermarkets and grocery stores all
over the country.
Now at that time, a similar product from England known as
‘Marmite’ was already very popular in Australia. Shoppers weren’t
keen to try something different and Vegemite sales were low. To
increase sales, the company even called it by a different name
to try to convince people to purchase it. It became known as
‘Parwill’ with a clever catch phrase to go with it: “If Marmite…then
Parwill”! The public didn’t bite. Even with this new advertising
strategy, sales did not improve.

Photo courtesy of (Tristanb@wikimedia.org) - granted under creative commons licence - attribution

Page 1 of 4

It took the Fred Walker Company
14 years of persistence and a
reversion to its original name
before the people of Australia
finally embraced their Vegemite.
Doctors began recommending
it as a rich source of Vitamin B,
and during the Second World
War the armed forces bought it
in bulk to send to the soldiers.
It eventually became so popular
that it had to be rationed across
Australia since the company
couldn’t meet the demands of
the needy public.
Another very clever advertising
tool that the company used to
popularise the brand was the
creation of the song ‘Happy Little
Vegemites’, which was released
on the radio in 1954. It went
on to become a television
commercial two years later.
It was aired right through the
1960s and then remastered in
the 1980s for a new generation.
Page 2 of 4
The Story of Vegemite
Even today, the song is easily
recognised as an unofficial
national anthem, with Vegemite
putting ‘a rose in every cheek’.
Vegemite has gone on to
become a food source that is
loved by Australians of all ages
and eaten at any time of the
day. Twenty-two million jars
are sold every year. It has a
thick and sticky consistency
and is almost black in colour.
Made from yeast and vegetable
extract, it is an excellent source
of Vitamin B but it is extremely
salty. Australians are used to
the flavour because they grow
up eating it. When travelling
overseas, some people even take
it with them as a small reminder
of home. However, adults who
try it for the first time say that
it is something that takes a little
getting used to!
 The Story of Vegemite

Questions
1. The Fred Walker Company went on to be known as what?

2. Who developed the recipe for Vegemite and what was his job? 

3. How did they decide to name the new spread Vegemite? 

4. In which year was Vegemite sold for the first time? 

5. What was the name of the product that was very similar to Vegemite and
was its direct competition? Where did this come from? 

6. How many jars of Vegemite are sold each year? 

7. Why is Vegemite good for you? 


8. Explain what the company did to try to make people buy more Vegemite.



9. Name the two very important groups who supported the buying
of Vegemite.


Page 3 of 4
10. Why do you think some people take Vegemite on holiday when
they go abroad?


11. Do you think ‘Vegemite’ is a good name for the spread? What would
you call it and why?




Page 4 of 4
 The Story of Vegemite

The story of Vegemite Answers

1. The Fred Walker Company went on to be known as what?
The Kraft Food Company
2. Who developed the recipe for Vegemite and what was his job?
Dr Cyril P. Callister. He was a chemist.
3. How did they decide to name the new spread Vegemite?
They launched a national competition and the public of Australia
decided on the name.
4. In which year was Vegemite sold for the first time?
1923
5. What was the name of the product that was very similar to Vegemite
and was its direct competition? Where did this come from?
‘Marmite’, which came from England.
6. How many jars of Vegemite are sold each year?
Twenty-two million.
7. Why is Vegemite good for you?
Because it is one of the richest sources of Vitamin B.
8. Explain what the company did to try to make people buy more Vegemite.
They tried to call it by a different name – ‘Parwill’. They came up
with a catchphrase to help advertise it.
9. Name the two very important groups who supported the buying
of Vegemite.
Doctors and the armed forces for their soldiers during the
Second World War.
10. Why do you think some people take Vegemite on holiday when
they go abroad?
Answers may vary – examples include: that it reminds Australians
of home; that you can’t buy Vegemite in other countries;
that they will miss the taste of it when they go away.

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11. Do you think ‘Vegemite’ is a good name for the spread? What
would you call it and why?
Answers will vary.

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