Rome, Italy. Nestle said thieves stole a truck carrying 413,793 units of its new KitKat chocolate range in Europe last week, a loss of more than 12 tonnes just days before Easter.
Truck stolen en route from Italy to Poland
Nestle told AFP on Saturday that the shipment disappeared during transit between production and distribution sites. The truck left a factory in central Italy and was heading to Poland when it was intercepted, and both the vehicle and its contents remain missing, the company said.
Company working with authorities
Nestle said it is working closely with local authorities and supply chain partners as investigations continue.
Concerns over availability and unofficial sales
The company warned the theft may lead to empty shelves and make it difficult for consumers to find KitKat products ahead of the holiday. It also said the stolen bars could enter “unofficial sales channels” across European markets.
Goods can be traced through batch codes
Officials said the products can be traced by scanning unique batch codes on each bar. If a match is found, scanners will provide instructions on how to alert the company so evidence can be shared with the relevant authorities.
Have you seen KitKat products being sold through unofficial channels in your area?