Nestlé is set to launch a vegan KitKat in 2021, called KitKat V, in response to customer demand for a plant-based alternative.
It will be launched later in the year in several countries though the KitKat Chocolatory and selected retailers, to test the opportunity for a wider roll-out.
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. I can’t wait for people to be able to try this amazingly tasty new KitKat.”
“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 was developed by chocolate experts in Nestlé’s confectionery research and development centre in York, UK, the original home of KitKat. They worked to make a vegan version that would live up to the high expectations of KitKat customers.
Louise Barrett, Head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Center 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.
Surveys have shown that people are interested in exploring more plant-based foods across different categories.
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.