Somebody Stole More Than 400,000 KitKat Chocolate Bars in Europe - Oddee
Somebody Stole More Than 400,000 KitKat Chocolate Bars in Europe
- As a result, Europe is at risk of running out of KitKats.
I’m a big KitKat fan. You give me a chance for a free chocolate-coated wafer bar, and I’m very likely to take it.
Yet, as much as I like KitKats, this guy sure has me beat.
Somebody, who’s quite possibly the world’s biggest KitKat enthusiast, has pulled off a heist worthy of a Hollywood movie. Recently, a huge shipment of KitKat bars went missing in Europe.
And when I say huge, I mean ginormous. More than 400,000 chocolate bars, totaling a dozen tons, vanished on the international journey from the factory to retail storage.
What actually happened to the chocolate is not completely clear, but KitKat manufacturer Nestle seems certain that the sweet cargo was stolen. The company has given conflicting statements on whether the heist will affect the chocolate supply with the approaching Easter celebrations.
Luckily, all hope of discovering the possible thief is not lost. According to the company, it is possible to trace the origin of black-market chocolate bars through a code printed on the wrapper.
And yes, there apparently is a chocolate black market. You always learn something new.
What Happened?
Late last week, a truck carrying a load of KitKat bars left a Nestle production facility in central Italy. It was destined for a storage facility in Poland, from which the chocolate bars would be distributed to retailers.
The truck never arrived.
Somehow, somewhere along the way, the entire truck and its cargo disappeared. As of the time of writing, not a trace of the vehicle or the KitKats has been discovered.
All in all, according to Nestle, the shipment contained exactly 413,793 chocolate bars. Put together, they’re reported to weigh around 12 tons.
Was It Theft?
As mentioned, no one is certain what happened to the truck and the KitKat haul. It simply vanished somewhere on the route and hasn’t been seen since.
Nestle, for its part, has not disclosed where the truck was last seen or where the company believes it was lost. As such, it is possible that there has been some kind of horrible accident.
Yet, based on the company’s public statements, it seems Nestle believes the cargo (and the truck carrying it) has been stolen.
“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,” Nestle said in a statement.
At least they’re taking it with humor.
Why Steal KitKats?
You might be wondering why someone would steal a truckload of chocolate bars. Well, according to Nestle, the thieves likely aren’t planning to eat the KitKats (although they might sample a few).
Instead, the chocolate “could enter unofficial sales channels.” As it turns out, there are distribution channels for illegally acquired chocolate bars.
That said, it’s not just KitKats the black market sells. Cargo theft is an increasing issue for producers of food and other goods worldwide, which is also why Nestle decided to publicly announce that it has been stolen from.
“Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes,” said Nestle.
“With more sophisticated schemes being deployed on a regular basis, we have chosen to go public with our own experience in the hope that it raises awareness of an increasingly common criminal trend.”
What Happens Now?
The thieves made away with a lot of chocolate that was destined for consumer markets. Is it possible, then, that there will be a KitKat shortage in Europe?
Maybe.
Nestle has given somewhat conflicting statements on whether the company believes it can meet Europe’s KitKat demand. Originally, Nestle said that the theft could result in shortages in “some European countries.”
However, the firm later changed its tune. In a post on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter), the company said European KitKat lovers do not need to worry.
“There are no concerns for consumer safety, and supply is not affected,” the company wrote.
Can the Chocolate Be Found?
As a silver lining, Nestle has said that the stolen KitKat bars can be tracked. In fact, anyone can do it.
On the back of every KitKat is a code identifying the production batch from which the chocolate bar originated. As such, it’s very easy to identify if KitKats sold through questionable channels belong to the stolen cargo.
The company said “consumers, retailers, and wholesalers” alike can check the batch code and find out if they’re dealing with a shady KitKat. However, the company didn’t specify where or how you can do the check.
Sorry, amateur sleuths.
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