Nestlé is set to launch a new vegan KitKat called KitKat V later this year as a trial across several different countries globally, to test the opportunity before a wider rollout.
The plant-based KitKat V will still deliver the “perfect balance between crispy wafer and smooth chocolate that people know and love” and will only be available through the KitKat Chocolatory and selected retailers.
Alexander von Maillot, Head of Confectionery at Nestlé, said: “One of the most common requests we see on social media is for a vegan KitKat, so we’re delighted to be able to make that wish come true.”
KitKat V was developed by chocolate experts in Nestlé’s confectionery research and development centre in York, UK, the original home of KitKat. They worked hard to make a vegan version that would live up to the high expectations of KitKat lovers everywhere.
Louise Barrett, Head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Centre in York said: “Taste was a key factor when developing the plant-based chocolate for our new vegan KitKat. We used our expertise in ingredients, together with a test and learn approach, to create a delicious vegan alternative to our original chocolate KitKat.”
Nestlé is helping people embrace a more plant-based diet, with options across its wide range of food and beverages.
The company has already launched plant-based alternatives to dairy made from rice, oat, soy, coconut, pea and almonds across categories. Examples include non-dairy ice cream, coffee creamers, rice- and oat-based drinks, pea-based beverages, plant-based cappuccinos and lattes, a vegan condensed milk alternative, as well as a range of non-dairy cheese to complement existing plant-based burgers.
As von Maillot added: “There is a quiet food revolution underway that is changing how people eat. We want to be at the forefront of that, championing the discovery of plant-based food and beverages. What better way to do that than offering a vegan version of one of our most famous and much-loved brands? The new KitKat V means chocolate lovers now have a great plant-based option when they have a break.”
KitKat V is certified vegan and made from 100 per cent sustainable cocoa sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with the Rainforest Alliance.