It’s KitKat heist! Thieves steal 12 tonnes of Swiss brand in Europe ahead of Easter

Swiss food major Nestlé has reported the theft of a large consignment of its popular KitKat bars in Europe, which is likely to disrupt supplies ahead of the Easter season, as per reports.

In a statement, the company reportedly said a truck carrying 4,13,793 units of its newly launched chocolate range, weighing around 12 tonnes, was stolen while in transit last week.

As per reports, the vehicle had departed from central Italy and was headed to Poland, with the consignment scheduled for distribution across multiple European markets en route. However, the exact location of the theft has not been disclosed, and both the truck and its cargo remain untraced.

A company spokesperson, referring to the brand’s well-known tagline, said Nestlé has always encouraged consumers to “have a break” with KitKat, but added that “thieves appear to have taken the message too literally”.

It reportedly added that while the company appreciates the “thieves’ exceptional taste”, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for their business.

Nestlé cautioned that the theft could lead to temporary shortages of KitKat bars in stores, particularly during the Easter period when demand typically rises.

The company also reportedly warned that the stolen products may enter unauthorised sales channels across European markets.

Investigations are under way in coordination with local authorities and supply chain partners. 

Nestlé said it is attempting to trace the stolen goods by scanning the unique batch codes found on each bar.