Vegemite addicts, your staple spread will return to Wellcome supermarkets by next week. Investigators at the product's manufacturer, Kraft, believe Japanese foodies visiting the city may have been responsible for the recent disappearance, rather than any problems with the Hong Kong-based supplier. Kraft learned about the absence of Vegemite on Hong Kong's supermarket shelves after being contacted by the Post last week following the discovery that desperate consumers were being forced to order special consignments from home. The black spread is likely to be found in most homes of the city's more than 60,000 expatriates from Australia and New Zealand. Wellcome claimed the supplier had told them changes to the packaging in Australia had been responsible for the shortfall. Kraft spokesman Simon Talbot said it was fast tracking about 200 cartons to Hong Kong, which should arrive by next week. They were bound for Wellcome stores because they sold the most Vegemite. 'That's 20,000 jars, so it should keep people happy,' he said. The company believed the shortage could be the result of bulk buying by Japanese visitors, who believe Vegemite's salty flavour falls into a 'fifth taste' category called umami. This roughly translates as 'delicious essence' in Japanese and describes a taste set off by the amino acid glutamate found in foods as diverse as breast milk, aged cheese, soy sauce - and Vegemite. 'It is quite quirky for the Japanese to be tasting the product and they have given it a special name, and they think it has a very addictive flavour and unique taste,' Mr Talbot said. 'We believe they have been told they can get Vegemite when they are in Hong Kong and Singapore, so that may well be why we have had shortfalls in both those cities.' The Australian International School said the disappearance of Vegemite at least one month ago had become a cause celebre among the school's community. Vegemite on toast with lashings of butter is a breakfast staple for most Antipodean children.