KitKat Celebrates 90th Anniversary This Year

The brand began its journey in 1935 in York, which still houses its R&D and manufacturing HQ.

With its iconic tagline – ‘Have a break, have a KitKat’ – the brand has become the international symbol of a meaningful break from the stresses of daily life, the food giant noted.

Scott Coles, managing director for Nestlé Confectionery in the UK and Ireland, commented, “To think KitKat started here in York 90 years ago and has grown into a multibillion-pound global brand is something we’re all incredibly proud of. York is still home to our confectionery business and factory, where we employ more than 2,000 people and make millions of KitKats every single day.

“KitKat is a true British success story, and while 90 years is an impressive milestone, I’m sure KitKat will be helping the people of Britain have a break for many decades to come.”

KitKat

KitKat, currently available in over 85 countries, sells more than five billion bars annually, making it Nestlé’s top confectionery brand in terms of revenue, as well as brand value.

Created as a four-finger chocolate-covered wafer bar, KitKat is now offered in over 300 flavours around the world, ranging from hazelnut and salted caramel in the UK to more exotic fare, such as wasabi and matcha, in other markets.

KitKat was originally invented by Rowntree’s, following an employee suggesting an idea for a chocolate bar that could easily fit in a lunch box.

The name KitKat originates from an eighteenth-century pastry cook called Christopher Catling, or Kit Cat, as he was more commonly known.

In the UK, KitKat recently teamed up with nostalgic movie rental company Blockbuster to create an immersive experience.

The experience encourages people to step away from their everyday life and rewind to a simpler time, to celebrate the launch of its new-format sharing bars.