KitKat’s 75th anniversary heralded

KitKat wrappers down the years KitKat wrappers down the years

YORK’S top chocolate bar – KitKat – is celebrating its 75th birthday, with Nestlé boss David Rennie promising the company will not sit on past achievements.

A Rowntree employee conceived of the bar as something “a man could take to work in his pack up”; now KitKats are sold in more countries than any other chocolate brand, with factories across the globe producing 17.6 billion fingers every year. In the UK alone, more than one billion KitKats are eaten every year, with three million made every day in York.

David Rennie, managing director of Nestlé Confectionery in the UK, said: “With a brand that’s 75 years young, it’s important to celebrate reaching this milestone, but actually the most important thing is to plan for the future.

“This is a brand that started life in York and started an important trend in Britain at that time. It is a great product with a great taste, as well as consistent brand qualities; all ingredients that have allowed a British invention to grow to become a much-loved global brand.”

Robert Opie, founder of the Museum Of Brands, Packaging And Advertising, said any brand that sold a billion bars a year had reached iconic status.

He said: “It is just one of Britain’s favourite brands.”

Comments(9)

Elle says...
9:56am Tue 12 Oct 10

I've now given up buying Kit Kats - the quality is not what it used to be. In every 7-pack that I have bought this year there is at least one kitkat that is broken or damaged or the chocolate doesn't cover the wafer so it is unedible!

Slasher Tez says...
12:56pm Tue 12 Oct 10

What is the advertising revenue from Nestle for the Press so far in 2010. These "editorials" must be worth a few quid, at least one a week now

TooRelaxed says...
12:57pm Tue 12 Oct 10

Slasher Tez wrote:
What is the advertising revenue from Nestle for the Press so far in 2010. These "editorials" must be worth a few quid, at least one a week now
It's actually every other day. They alternate with the racecourse.

Garrowby Turnoff says...
2:52pm Tue 12 Oct 10

Kit Kat Chunky... Mmmmm

AdmiralNN says...
3:33pm Tue 12 Oct 10

“It is just one of Britain’s favourite brands.”

'
Made by one of the worlds most hated companies. Give yourself a pat on the back.

mockaroundtheclock says...
5:42pm Tue 12 Oct 10

AdmiralNN wrote:
“It is just one of Britain’s favourite brands.”

'
Made by one of the worlds most hated companies. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Nestlé are the biggest food manufacturer in the world so clearly this 'most hated' thing doesn't add up.

Sounds like you've been reading to much junk on the internet pal.

AdmiralNN says...
9:46pm Tue 12 Oct 10

mockaroundtheclock wrote:
AdmiralNN wrote:
“It is just one of Britain’s favourite brands.”

'
Made by one of the worlds most hated companies. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Nestlé are the biggest food manufacturer in the world so clearly this 'most hated' thing doesn't add up.

Sounds like you've been reading to much junk on the internet pal.
Yes that's right. Whereas I should have saved my time and just listened to what that nice Mr. Rennie says, Ey pal.

Lord Muck says...
7:30pm Wed 13 Oct 10

Elle wrote:
I've now given up buying Kit Kats - the quality is not what it used to be. In every 7-pack that I have bought this year there is at least one kitkat that is broken or damaged or the chocolate doesn't cover the wafer so it is unedible!
Elle - I'm sure the kit kats left the factory gates intact and weren't made broken!

I can only imagine the melodramatic scenes as a section of exposed wafer comes into view and the ensuing dismay followed by the sad remnants of kit kat being discarded as 'unedible'. You poor thing!

Expat Bob says...
2:16pm Thu 14 Oct 10

Kit Kat Was a great product, now just a shadow of its former self. The Chocolate tastes more like "Chocolate Flavor" Kit Kat is now American rubbish using a well liked Brand name. The same as all the other products Nestle make, the taste and quality suits the sort of people who like inferior stuff like that. Nestle shouldn't capitalize on it, its an Insult.

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