Twelve tonnes of Formula 1 KitKat bars stolen in Europe

Approximately 12 tonnes of the Formula 1 KitKat chocolate bars were stolen while transiting through Europe, a spokesperson for Nestlé confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday.

The truck, which is also unaccounted for at this time, was carrying 413,793 units of KitKat’s “new chocolate range,” according to a statement by the company. The journey started in central Italy and was supposed to end in Poland, with the anticipated route covering around 776 to 838 miles.

KitKat became F1’s official chocolate bar last year, with the partnership launching during F1’s 75th anniversary and KitKat’s 90th anniversary. In January 2026, Nestle announced this year marked KitKat’s first season as F1’s official chocolate partner, along with revealing the first-ever chocolate-molded F1 car which features “a smooth milk chocolate shell with embedded crispy cereal and wafer pieces” and the release of a second product, the F1 KitKat Chunky.

A Nestlé spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic that no one was hurt in the chocolate heist, which took place somewhere between leaving production and the distribution locations. Only one shipment of a single KitKat range was involved.

“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 KitKat spokesperson said in a statement. “Whilst we appreciate the criminals’ exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes. With more sophisticated schemes being deployed on a regular basis, we have chosen to go public with our own experience in the hope that it raises awareness of an increasingly common criminal trend.”

Investigations are ongoing, though KitKat’s statement suggest that this not an isolated incident. According to KitKat, “the theft comes shortly after a joint report from the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) EMEA, which outlined an alarming rise in cargo theft and freight fraud — with more sophisticated methods of deception becoming increasingly common.”

The chocolate company feels there is not a risk associated with the product, and KitKat’s partners have been notified of the incident. The stolen product is able to be traced via a unique batch code, which is tied to individual KitKat bars.