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Nestlé Launches Tool to Track Stolen 12 Tons of KitKats

Published 5 April 2026

Thieves stole more than 12 tons of KitKat chocolate bars from a truck traveling from central Italy to Poland in late March, prompting Nestlé to launch an online tool on April 1 to enlist public help in tracking the missing shipment.

The heist involved 413,793 bars of a limited-edition variety shaped like Formula 1 race cars, produced as part of KitKat's sponsorship with the motorsport series. The truck, loaded at a Nestlé factory, disappeared en route to distribution centers in Poland for dispersal across European markets. According to company statements, the attackers near Turin impersonated police officers to intercept the vehicle in a coordinated operation. Neither the truck nor the cargo has been recovered, and investigations by Italian authorities continue without identified suspects.

Nestlé confirmed the incident in a March 28 statement, emphasizing that cargo theft represents a growing challenge for businesses. "We've always encouraged people to have a break with KitKat, but it seems these thieves took the message a bit too literally," a spokesperson said. The company dismissed speculation that the tracker launch was an April Fools prank, stating, "Someone really stole 12...

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