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It seems someone took 'Have a Break, Have a KitKat' as a personal challenge. Recently, Nestle the parent company of the wafer-chocolate brand KitKat confirmed that 12 tonnes (413,793) KitKats had been stolen in transit from a factory in Central Italy and Poland.
In an X (formerly Twitter) post, the brand revealed that it is working closely with local authorities and supply chain partners to investigate and assured customers that safety and supply had not been affected.
Nestle makes a pun on the robbery
"It seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made a break with more than 12 tons of our chocolate," said a spokesperson for the brand while adding that they have always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat. The firm said that the heist could result in shortages of the crunchy bars in some European countries and that the missing bars could enter "unofficial sales channels." However, Nestle assured that it would be able to trace the stolen goods by scanning the unique batch of codes found on each bar. "If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert KitKat who will then share the evidence appropriately," it said.
KitKat robbery heats up social media meme game
The news of KitKats being robbed has spread far and wide in the realm of social media, awakening the mastermind meme-makers from their slumber. "Wow the new Fast and the Furious movie is really going to some strange places" wrote one user on X. "what in the breaking bad?" asked another. "It's not the chocolate—it's about sending a message. Nobody gets a break," wrote one while sharing an image of the Joker burning down all the stolen chocolates. "We got a KitKat heist before GTA VI," lamented another. One user shared a video of a squirrel munching on a KitKat writing: "Someone tell KitKat we have a prime suspect"
European food heists are common
According to 2018 data by the European Union, the value of goods stolen annually is €8.2 billion. Across the globe, Germany gets hit the hardest. According to DHL Freight Connections, thieves steal cargo from around 26,000 trucks every year. Meaning, that every 20 minutes a truckload is stolen in the country. Trucks are the main targets, accounting for about 75 per cent of thefts, as organised, large-scale operations fuel a sharp increase in both incidents and losses through 2024–2025.Among these, food and beverage products are the most frequently stolen worldwide, accounting for 22% of all incidents in 2024. Chocolate is a top target because it doesn't spoil, everyone wants it, and it sells fast on unofficial markets.In August 2017, 20 tonnes of Nutella, Kinder eggs and other sweets were stolen in Germany. In November 2019, police in Austria confirmed that 20 tons of Milka chocolate products were stolen from a factory with the help of forged documents. Now, the KitKat robbery has been added to the list of top chocolate heists in Europe, marking a feat for the robbers.
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