KitKat has unveiled a tracker to help consumers determine whether their KitKat chocolate is part of a batch linked to a reported theft.
To help track the missing bars, Customers have been advised to locate the eight-digit batch number, which is 60300848, printed on the back of their KitKat chocolate and enter the batch code into the checker.
Meanwhile, if the code is not linked to the stolen consignment, the system returns a message indicating that the chocolate was not stolen while encouraging users to continue checking and sharing the information to help widen the search.
KitKat Chocolate Bars Stolen in Europe
This follows KitKat’s previous announcement that 413,793 chocolate bars, weighing about 12 tons, were stolen from a truck in Europe.
In a statement, the confectionery, manufactured by the Swiss firm Nestle, noted that the chocolates were stolen while the vehicle was distributing the bars along a route from a factory in central Italy to Poland.
“The stolen truck left a factory in central Italy and was en route to Poland when the robbery occurred, according to a statement from Nestlé. The vehicle and the chocolate that were carried off have not been located. No one was hurt during the heist,”
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The chocolate brand further argued that the missing chocolate bars may lead to a shortage of KitKats appearing on shelves, and buyers may struggle to find their favorite chocolates ahead of Easter.
It also said the missing chocolate bars could enter unofficial sales channels across European markets.
Additionally, KitKat noted that the company is investigating the theft with local authorities and supply chain partners.
About KitKat Chocolates
The chocolate was founded in the 1930s by the British confectionery company Rowntree’s with the vision of creating a chocolate bar that could be consumed on the go without making a mess.
In 1935, a heartwarming treat named “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp” hit the shelves in stores around the United Kingdom.
It consisted of layers of wafer cake, covered in creamy milk chocolate.
In the 1950s, the brand was distributed across the Commonwealth countries, including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, and Canada, where Rowntree had already established a presence.
However, there was a split in the 1980s between the Hershey Company and Nestlé, a Swiss multinational food and beverage company, which acquired Rowntree’s, the original producer of KitKat.
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Since then, Nestlé has taken over the manufacturing and distribution of this popular snack, leading to its widespread global availability.
Currently, the chocolate is sold in over 80 countries and is one of the most popular chocolate bars worldwide.
Through the years, Nestlé has released a variety of KitKat flavors to cater to different tastes and preferences, to the extent of having vegan and halal options in some countries.
