Too literal a break: a truck carrying 12 tons of KitKat bars was stolen in Europe (3 photos)
Nestlé has officially confirmed a major robbery involving one of its logistics routes. 
Unknown assailants hijacked a truck transporting a shipment of KitKat chocolate bars from Italy to a distribution center in Poland.
The thieves stole more than 413,000 bars. It turns out the thieves stole not the classic product, but a limited edition KitKat F1, released as part of the brand's partnership with Formula 1. The bars are shaped like racing cars, making them highly visible in the marketplace. 
Police in Italy and Poland suspect that the truck "disappeared" at a layover during its 1,300-kilometer route. The thieves knew exactly the route and the nature of the cargo. Nestlé representatives responded to the incident with a dose of irony, recalling the brand's famous slogan:
"We've always encouraged people to take a break from KitKats. But it seems the thieves took that message too literally."
Despite the humorous tone of the official comments, the situation has very real economic consequences. Twelve tons of chocolate is a significant volume for a regional distribution center. The company has already warned that the incident could lead to temporary localized product shortages in stores in Poland and neighboring countries. Since the series is limited, restarting production lines before the holidays is virtually impossible. 
A life-size chocolate car, created in honor of the brand's partnership with Formula 1, is on display at St. Helen's Square in York.
Nestlé officially announced that each bar from the stolen batch has a unique identification code (batch code). The company has already launched a digital monitoring system, and retailers and customers across Europe are asked to scan the codes using a special app.
Given the specific nature of the cargo, investigators are looking for distribution points not in large chains, but in local markets and small private shops, where owners might be tempted by the low prices of "gray" imports.
