Twelve tons of KitKat chocolate bars were stolen from a truck in transit between Italy and Poland, Nestlé confirmed in a statement on Sunday. The stolen shipment, consisting of 413,793 F1-themed KitKat bars, was en route from a factory in central Italy to Poland for distribution across Europe. Nestlé stated that the theft occurred last Thursday, though the exact location along the route remains undisclosed.
The company emphasized that consumer safety is not at risk and that supply chains will not be disrupted. KitKat bars are traceable by unique batch codes, and the company is working with local authorities and supply chain partners to investigate the incident. Nestlé also highlighted the growing issue of cargo theft, noting that the stolen bars could potentially enter unofficial channels.
In a lighthearted response, Nestlé quipped, "We've always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat. But it seems thieves have taken the message too literally and made a break with more than 12 tons of our chocolate." The theft occurred ahead of the Easter holiday, a key sales period for confectionery, raising concerns about potential short-term supply disruptions in parts of Europe.
KitKat is a significant product for Nestlé, contributing to the company's confectionery business, which grew 8.2% to 8.70 billion Swiss Francs in 2025. Despite the heist, Nestlé's stock price has declined over 10% in the past year.