KitKat (2024)

FAQs

Why is KitKat different in the US? ›

In the US, Kit Kat is sold by Hershey. In the rest of the world, Nestlé's in charge. That means different flavors across the globe, and different recipes — even two versions of a dark chocolate Kit Kat, Hershey's and Nestlé's, don't taste the same.

In Japanese, kitto mean 'surely' or 'certainly' and katsu means 'to win'. For this reason, Kit-Kats are given to students not just as treats, but as good luck charms before important exams. In fact, one in three students in Japan will buy a Kit-Kat in anticipation of entrance examinations!

The KIT KAT® candy bar dates back to 1935 when the wafer crisp chocolate bar was launched in England. Originally, it was known as “Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp,” but in 1937 the candy bar was renamed as "KIT KAT® Chocolate Crisp".

In the 1930s, British confectionery company Rowntree's founded KitKat in the United Kingdom. The vision was to create a chocolate bar that could be consumed on-the-go without creating a mess, which lead to the birth of KitKat.

Have you noticed Kit Kat chocolate bars are a bit smaller? You're not imagining it. Nestle has confirmed the iconic chocolate is the latest victim of “shrinkflation”. Shrinkflation is when a product gets smaller in size but its price remains the same - or sometimes even increases.

The increased and unpredictable costs for key ingredients is part of the picture behind the increased price of KitKats and other chocolate products. There are plenty of other factors to take into account as well, such as energy costs relating to the manufacturing process.

There have been more than 300 limited-edition seasonal and regional flavors of Kit Kat chocolate bars produced in Japan since 2000, many exclusive to the country.

The prices are indicative of this: a single, regular-sized Kit Kat bar costs 324 yen, while a box of 4 mini Kit Kats costs 432 yen.

Kit Kats have become so popular in Japan that there are more than 300 different flavors or iterations of these chocolatey goodies. It's a smorgasbord of chocolate madness!

Fry & Sons and currently manufactured by Cadbury. Launched in 1866—nineteen years after Fry's created the first moulded, solid chocolate eating bar (in 1847)— Fry's Chocolate Cream is the first mass-produced chocolate bar and is the world's oldest chocolate bar brand.

Is the Kit Kat Bar being discontinued? ›

With the promotion of alternative products, the Kit Cat brand decreased and was eventually discontinued.

M&M's are the flagship product of the Mars Wrigley Confectionery division of Mars, Incorporated.

Snack History explains that Rowntree had a distribution deal with Hershey's, allowing the company to produce and sell the Kit Kat bar in the United States. When the company was sold to Nestlé, Hershey's maintained this position.

Japanese Kit Kats and Good Luck

Kit Kat in Japanese is pronounced “kitto katto” which actually sounds very similar to the Japanese phrase “kitto katsu”, which translates to “you will surely win”. The word “kitto” in Japanese means “surely or absolutely”, and the word “katsu” means “bound to win”.

The Hershey Trust has interests in both companies and there is some overlap when it comes to the Board of Directors in both companies . Still, they are essentially independent of each other. Hershey's Chocolate World which is adjacent to the amusem*nt park is owned by The Hershey Company.

KitKat in Canada is made by Nestle who sell the bar everywhere but the United States. ... The Canadian bar is much darker and has a richer, less waxy flavour. The U.S. version is slightly crispier, but this is not enough to overcome the chalky Hershey's milk chocolate flavour that I've now come to despise in adulthood.

The difference is made up with sugar and fillers, and less pure cocoa means less chocolatey goodness and more sweetness. The candy bar was created in 1911 by a York confectioner called Rowntree's, and Nestle launched it in the U.K. as the “Chocolate Crisp” in 1935.

The British Kit Kat has a noticably sweeter taste over all when eaten next to the US version, and the slightly malty taste of the wafers is much more distinguishable. Hershey's Kit Kat is more dense, with a heavier mouth feel, but is still provides a good crunch.

Kit Kat is produced by Nestlé, and it typically maintains consistent quality and ingredients across different regions. However, there might be variations in packaging, marketing strategies, or regional preferences for certain flavors.