Approximately 12 tons of KitKat bars were stolen during what has been described as a European chocolate heist.
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In a press release over the weekend, KitKat European supplier Nestlé confirmed that a truck transporting 413,793 units of its new chocolate range was stolen during transit in Europe.
“The shipment, weighing approximately 12 tonnes, disappeared last week while en route between production and distribution locations,” Nestlé shared. “Having left Central Italy last week, the bars were to be distributed throughout Europe – with the 1,250-1,350km route eventually terminating in Poland.”
Nestlé further stated that the vehicle and its contents remained unaccounted for. Investigations are ongoing in close collaboration with local authorities and supply chain partners.
The chocolate company also shared a joint report by the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) EMEA, which states that cargo theft and freight fraud are on the rise and becoming more “sophisticated.”
“We’ve always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat,” the company continued. “But it seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made a break with more than 12 [tons] of our chocolate.”
Nestlé pointed out, “Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes.”
Nestlé added that there are no consumer safety concerns and that supply is not affected by the theft.
200,000 Chocolate Eggs Were Stolen During a 2023 Chocolate Heist
According to The Guardian, this isn’t the first time that chocolate has been unexpectedly stolen.
In 2023, a British man named Joby Pool stole 200,000 chocolate eggs. He had broken into an industrial unit and made off with thousands of dollars worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs.
Prosecutor Owen Beale said Pool used a metal grinder to break into an industrial unit, which belonged to SW Group Logistics. He then towed a trailer containing the creme eggs.
Pool was later stopped by law enforcement while he was traveling north on M42 in the stolen vehicle. He quickly surrendered to the police.
“This clearly wasn’t spur-of-the-moment offending, if I can put it like that,” Beale said. “Because he had taken with him a tractor unit, and he had to know that the load was there in the first place. This is clearly an organized criminal matter. You don’t just happen to learn about a trailer with that kind of value being available.”
The judge wasn’t convinced that Pool was the only person involved in the heist. “I am pretty sure others would have been involved in this enterprise,” he said. “I don’t know what you intended to do with the trailer.”
Pool was sentenced to 18 months. Half the time he was serving in prison, and the other half was on license.