KitKat releases tracker after large-scale candy bar heist
Nestlé is tracking more than 12 tonnes of stolen Kit Kat bars after thieves raided an entire truck from its Italian manufacturing site.
KitKat is taking safety precautions after thousands of candy bars were robbed overseas last month.
The chocolate maker’s Canadian subsidiary has introduced security details to protect deliveries over the Easter weekend, according to a news release.
KitKat Canada said it chose to increase safety measures during busy replenishment weekends by deploying security guards on delivery trucks and security guards to monitor stores.
“While some may find this disruptive to their daily lives, we believe it is a necessary safety measure to ensure our wafer bars reach retail safely,” the company said.
Last month, KitKat announced that European thieves had stolen an entire truck containing more than 400,000 candy bars (12 tons) as it left a manufacturing site in Italy.
Nestlé, which sells KitKat around the world except the United States, where Hershey has the rights, has capitalized on the attention generated by the heist. On April 1, the company launched a stolen KitKat tracker to help recover lost chocolates.
See KitKat security escorts in Canada
The security escort for the KitKat delivery in Canada included a convoy of SUVs, which appropriately displayed red flags emblazoned with the KitKat logo.
The company also said it has placed security guards at store displays.
KitKat Canada quipped, “We are not sorry for slowing down traffic. In fact, we are not sorry for safely delivering KitKat to a store near you.”
A person passing by the SUV convoy shared the clip on TikTok, where it has been viewed more than 600,000 times as of April 8.
“If anyone knows where they’ve been and if they’re handing out free Kit Kats, please let us know,” the poster said.
In the comments on the video, some questioned whether it was a stunt, while others praised the effort.
“I hope the marketing team gets a big raise for this as this has been floating around on my social media for days,” one person wrote.
Another said: “I wonder if they have Kit Kat tactical gear, like red and white, and it says Kit Kat Police on the back?”
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Contact her at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
