Nestlé, the Swiss food giant that owns KitKat, said in a statement on Saturday that “a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit in Europe.” The shipment, weighing approximately 12 tonnes, vanished last week while en route between production and distribution centers.
In a tongue-in-cheek reference to KitKat’s famous slogan, a company spokesperson said, “We’ve always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat. But it seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made a break with more than 12 tonnes of our chocolate.”
The brand cautioned that the theft could result in temporary shortages, acknowledging that “consumers, unfortunately, may struggle to find their favourite chocolates ahead of Easter.”
The stolen vehicle had departed from central Italy and was traveling toward Poland, with plans to distribute the bars in multiple countries along the route. While Nestlé did not specify the exact location of the theft, it confirmed that “the vehicle and its contents remain unaccounted for.”
Investigations are underway in close cooperation with local authorities and supply chain partners. Nestlé also warned that the missing chocolate could surface in unofficial sales channels across Europe. To combat this, each KitKat bar carries a unique batch code, which can be scanned to help trace the stolen goods.
“If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert KitKat, who will then share the evidence appropriately,” the company said.