A shipment of more than 400,000 Kit Kat chocolate bars was stolen during transit in Europe, raising concerns about cargo theft and the potential for the products to enter unauthorized sales channels.
The shipment, totaling 413,793 units and weighing about 12 tons, disappeared last week while being transported between production and distribution sites, according to the company. The truck had departed from central Italy and was expected to travel between 1,250 and 1,350 kilometers before reaching its destination in Poland. The vehicle and its contents remain missing, and an investigation is underway with local authorities and supply chain partners.
The company said there is no safety risk associated with the stolen products but warned they could circulate through unofficial markets across Europe. Partners have been notified.
The incident follows a recent joint report from the International Union of Marine Insurance and the Transported Asset Protection Association in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which identified a rise in cargo theft and increasingly sophisticated fraud tactics affecting global supply chains.
“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 tonnes of our chocolate,” a company spokesperson said. “Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes.”
Authorities have not yet recovered the truck or the missing shipment. The company urged consumers not to attempt to locate or handle any of the stolen goods and to report relevant information to law enforcement.
The company said it will continue to assist investigators and provide updates as they become available.
