Swiss food brand Nestle has reported the theft of a large consignment of its popular KitKat bars in Europe, warning that the incident could disrupt supplies ahead of the Easter season.In a statement, the company confirmed that a truck carrying 413,793 units of its newly launched chocolate range was stolen en route. The shipment, weighing about 12 tonnes, went missing last week during transport between production and distribution points, news agency AFP reported. According to the company, the truck had left central Italy and was heading to Poland, with plans to deliver products in several European countries along the way. However, the exact location where the theft took place has not been disclosed and both the vehicle and its cargo have not been located.A spokesperson for the brand, referring to its famous tagline, said that the company has always encouraged consumers to “take a break” with KitKats, but added that in this case, “it appears that thieves took the message too literally.”The spokesperson said, “We’ve always encouraged people to take a break from KitKat. But it seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made off with more than 12 tonnes of our chocolate.”Nestlé warned that the thefts could lead to a temporary shortage of KitKat bars in stores, especially at a time when demand usually peaks before Easter. The company also warned that stolen products could enter European markets through informal or unauthorized sales channels.The incident is currently under investigation in coordination with local authorities and supply chain partners. Nestle said it was working to trace the missing consignments using the unique batch code printed on each bar. If identified, the system will instruct users to alert the company, allowing further action.“If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert KitKat, which will share the evidence appropriately,” the company said.The brand has urged retailers and consumers to remain vigilant as efforts continue to recover the stolen shipments and prevent its spread in the market.
