Twelve tons of KitKat chocolate bars went missing in Europe last week after thieves made off with the truck transporting them, Swiss food giant Nestle said Saturday.
The truck, carrying 413,793 bars from a new KitKat range, set off from central Italy to distribute the chocolate across Europe but never reached its final destination in Poland.
“The vehicle and its contents remain unaccounted for,” Nestle said, adding it did not disclose exactly where the truck disappeared.
A KitKat spokesperson confirmed that “a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit in Europe,” noting the shipment vanished while moving between production and distribution points.
“We've always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat,” the spokesperson told AFP. “But it seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made a break with more than 12 tons of our chocolate.”
The company said investigations are ongoing in cooperation with local authorities and supply chain partners.
“Investigations are ongoing in close collaboration with local authorities and supply chain partners,” Nestle said.
Risk of shortages and resale
Nestle warned the theft could disrupt supply ahead of the Easter holiday, with fewer KitKat products potentially reaching store shelves.
The company also said the stolen chocolate bars “could enter unofficial sales channels across European markets.”
To help track the missing shipment, Nestle said each bar carries a unique batch code. Anyone scanning the codes from the stolen products would receive instructions on how to contact the company.
“If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert KitKat who will then share the evidence appropriately,” it said.
While acknowledging the unusual nature of the theft, the company pointed to a broader trend.
“Whilst we appreciate the criminals' exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes,” KitKat said.