<\/p>\n
A pack of chocolate-covered wafer biscuit bar KitKat brand is displayed in the showroom of Swiss food giant’s Nestle on October 20, 2016 in Vevey.<\/p>\n
Sales of Swiss food giant Nestle rose slightly in the first 9 months of 2016, in a “more sluggish” environment, which led the group to strongly revise downwards its expectations for the full 2016 year. According to a statement released October 20, the group recorded a one-percent increase in sales over the first nine months of 2016 to 65,500,000,000 francs (60 billion euros). \/ AFP \/ FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
FABRICE COFFRINI<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Nestl\u00e9 insists a recent KitKat theft is not an April Fool\u2019s joke.<\/p>\n
After the brand said 12 tons of KitKat products were stolen while being transported between a factory in central Italy and their destination in Poland, the company launched an online tracker<\/a> so consumers can check whether their KitKat came from the missing batch.<\/p>\n Nestl\u00e9 said the company is \u201cworking closely with local authorities and supply chain partners to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s the Deal With the Stolen KitKat Tracker?<\/p>\n Days after the heist made headlines, KitKat escalated its response. In a post<\/a> shared via the brand\u2019s Instagram page on April 1, they released what they called an \u201cOfficial Statement in Response to Other Official Statements.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for your interest in the missing KitKats. But just to clarify, this is not a stunt, or an April Fool\u2019s joke,\u201d the post read. \u201cSomeone really stole 12 tonnes of KitKats. And we really want to know where they\u2019ve gone. So, we\u2019ve created a Stolen KitKat Tracker that lets you check if your KitKat is from the missing batch.\u201d<\/p>\n The tracker, linked in the brand\u2019s Instagram bio, greets visitors with the message: \u201c413,793 KITKATS HAVE BEEN STOLEN \ud83c\udf6bIS YOURS ONE OF THEM?\u201d<\/p>\n The tool asks users to find the eight-digit batch number on the back of their KitKat and enter the code. If your bar wasn\u2019t part of the stolen batch, a message reads, \u201cTHIS KITKAT WASN\u00b4T STOLEN – KEEP SEARCHING AND HELP US WIDEN THE SEARCH BY SHARING.\u201d<\/p>\n KitKat maintains the theft is real. According to the brand, 413,793 chocolate bars remain unaccounted for, and investigations are ongoing in collaboration with local authorities and supply chain partners. The tracker remains active on the brand\u2019s Instagram bio for anyone who wants to check their batch number.<\/p>\n Why These Particular KitKats Are So Special<\/p>\n The stolen chocolate bars<\/a> were part of the KitKat Formula One line, which are shaped like race cars, diverting from the traditional rectangular shape we know and love. Nestl\u00e9 said \u201cthe vehicle and its contents remain unaccounted for.\u201d<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the brand said, \u201cWe\u2019ve 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 tons of our chocolate.\u201d<\/p>\n Nestl\u00e9 confirmed \u201cthere are no concerns for customer safety, and supply is not affected.\u201d<\/p>\n Other Brands Are Joining in on the Fun<\/p>\n The brand\u2019s Instagram comments section turned into a free-for-all after the announcement. Lipton Ice Tea\u2019s account wrote, \u201cI believe u boo.\u201d Kayali\u2019s account commented, \u201cSo your slogan isn\u2019t \u2018Break in, have a KitKat\u2019? \ud83d\ude2d\ud83c\udf6b.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUgh, you just can\u2019t catch a break\u2026\u201d Hostess Snacks wrote. PopUp Bagels commented, \u201cDon\u2019t check our cream cheese\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Yamaha Motor Europe commented, \u201cWhatever you do, DO NOT look at our last post.\u201d The brand\u2019s most recent Instagram photo showed a pile of KitKats on the seat of a car with the caption, \u201cJust us having a break\u2026#KitKat.\u201d<\/p>\n The April 1 posting date fueled doubt among commenters. \u201cI told you it was an April Fool\u2019s joke \ud83d\ude39\ud83d\ude39\ud83d\ude39\ud83d\ude39\ud83d\ude39\ud83d\ude39,\u201d one person commented. Another wrote, \u201cIf this is an April Fools stunt, I will applaud you and pat my back. Whilst eating a Kit Kat \ud83d\udc4f.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlot twist: it was the marketing team all along \ud83d\udc40,\u201d another said. \u201cSo totally a stunt. LOL,\u201d added another commenter.<\/p>\n This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.<\/p>\n
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