Fears of a KitKat shortage ahead of Easter have been allayed after Nestlé confirmed that the stolen shipment of 12 tonnes of chocolate bars was a new Formula One line, not the classic Easter treats. The theft occurred on 26 March while the truck was en route from a factory in central Italy to Poland.
Nestlé said it is working with local authorities and supply chain partners to investigate the incident. The vehicle and the chocolate have not been located, but no one was hurt during the heist.
The stolen bars were from KitKat's new F1 range, which became official after the brand partnered with Formula One last year. The bars are moulded into race car shapes but still feature the classic chocolate-covered wafers.
Nestlé warned that the stolen products could appear on unofficial markets, but law enforcement can trace them using batch codes. The company went public with the theft to raise awareness of rising cargo crime.
