A massive 12-ton shipment of Nestlé KitKat chocolate bars was stolen during transit in Europe last week, the company confirmed Saturday.
The theft involves 413,793 units of the brand’s newly launched crunch chocolate range and could lead to shortages on store shelves just ahead of Easter, KitKat warned, per CBS News.
Nestlé, the Swiss food giant that owns the KitKat brand, said in a statement that “a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range has been stolen during transit in Europe.” The vehicle and its contents remain unaccounted for.
The truck departed from a factory in central Italy and was en route to Poland along a 1,250- to 1,350-kilometer route for distribution across several European countries, according to KitKat’s official press release. The shipment disappeared last week between production and distribution locations.
Investigations are ongoing “in close collaboration with local authorities and supply chain partners,” the company said. KitKat added that the missing chocolate bars “could enter unofficial sales channels across European markets.”
A KitKat 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 warned that “the theft may lead to a shortage of KitKats appearing on shelf,” acknowledging that “consumers, unfortunately, may struggle to find their favourite chocolates ahead of Easter.”
To help identify any stolen product that might surface, each bar carries a unique batch code. Consumers, retailers, and wholesalers can scan the on-pack batch number; if it matches the stolen shipment, the scanner will alert KitKat, which will then share evidence with authorities. The company stressed there is no safety risk with the product itself, but urged the public not to attempt to locate, handle, or recover any stolen goods.
KitKat did not disclose the exact location where the truck went missing, other than the Italy-to-Poland transit route. No arrests have been reported. The incident comes as cargo theft continues to rise across Europe, a trend KitKat highlighted when it went public with the details to raise awareness. The company said it will provide further updates as the investigation proceeds.
