A shipment of KitKat chocolate bars has gone missing in Europe in what Nestlé described as a theft involving more than 413,000 units of a new range.
The cargo, weighing around 12 tonnes, was being transported from Italy to Poland when it disappeared during transit last week.
The shipment was scheduled for distribution across multiple European markets but did not reach its destination.
“We’ve always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat,” a Nestlé spokesperson said on Saturday. “But it seems thieves have taken the message too literally.”
The company stated that the incident could impact supply chains ahead of Easter, a period of high demand for chocolate products across Europe.
Nestlé said there is concern the missing stock could enter unofficial sales channels, adding that authorities are working with logistics partners to investigate the case.
Each bar in the shipment carries a batch code that can be used to identify whether it belongs to the missing consignment, according to the company.
Social media users reacted with memes and commentary around the disappearance, turning the incident into a running joke about a “KitKat heist”. One post read, “Not them being kit napped .”
Another user joked about gaming culture, writing, “Kit Kat heist… before GTA 12T tho.”
A separate reaction suggested that the incident be ignored since it is chocolate and may be making someone happy, trailing off with “have a break, have a kit-kat”.
“Oil shortage ❌KitKat shortage ✔️,” one post stated.
“It’s not about the chocolate, it’s about sending a message. Nobody gets a break,” another user wrote.
A user tagged the Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, jokingly asking for intervention in reference to Pakistan’s efforts for peace between the US and Iran.