KIT Kat Orange is back by massive popular demand - and this time it's forever.

And Nestl Rowntree predicted today that its re-launch of the orange-flavoured version will help send sales of the top snack bar soaring again.

The company was confident that the move, along with other undisclosed developments later this year, would more than reverse the £10 million drop in sales of best-selling Kit Kat to £210 million in 1997.

Kit Kat Orange was first brought out in the spring of 1996 as a limited edition, withdrawn as is usual with such products after only a few months.

But customers inundated Nestl with more than 4,500 letters and phone calls, begging it to bring the tasty snack back, and now it has obliged.

"Normally when we launch special editions, we only expect them to make one appearance, but given the tremendous popularity of Kit Kat Orange, we've made an exception," said spokesman Paul Kirkwood.

The two-finger bars will be permanently available in eight-packs, which are mostly sold in supermarkets. "Orange fans need never again be disappointed that their favourite snack has been and gone."

Single four-finger bars will also be sold in all shops for two or three months while stocks last.

The move, which will not have any impact on jobs at the York chocolate factory, is another indication of the growing popularity of orange flavoured chocolate.

The re-launch comes less than a month after Nestl's York rival, Terry's Suchard, announced it was stepping up production of Terry's Chocolate Orange to meet growing demand from American consumers.

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