Take a Break… Learn 9 Facts About Kit Kat

Were you aware that during World War II, Kit Kat bars were packaged in blue?

Kit Kat is a beloved chocolate bar that has been enjoyed around the world for many years.

But where did it originate and why do we depend on it so much?

Here are 9 delectable facts about Kit Kats!

Kit Kat is 87 Years Old.

Kit Kat was first introduced in London on August 29, 1935.

The first Kit Kat chocolate bar was a four-fingered chocolate wafer bar.

The Kit Kat Bar Has Had Various Names Over the Years.

It was not always known as a Kit Kat.

When the item was first introduced, it was called “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp,” and it was renamed Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp two years later.

The exact origin of the name Kit Kat is uncertain, as there are several possible sources.

The term has been used to describe food snacks since at least the 18th century, and it is also said that the name comes from a meeting place in London known as the Kit Cat Club.

The words “Chocolate Crisp” were dropped from the title in 1949, and it became just Kit Kat.

The Kit-Kat Recipe Changed During Wartime Rations.

The chocolate-coated wafer bar was launched shortly before World War II.

As a result of rationing during the war, some of the bar’s ingredients had to be changed.

The change in ingredients resulted in the chocolate bar being less tasty, which was a concern for the company.

During this time, they even changed their advertising to read “No more chocolate crisp until after the war,” in the hopes of maintaining people’s interest and loyalty.

However, after the war, it returned to its original recipe and packaging.

This was a positive time for Kit Kat, as sales plummeted during the war.

Kit Kat Had Blue Packaging Throughout WWII.

A shortage of milk during WWII prompted Rowntree’s to switch from milk chocolate to dark chocolate in its Kit Kat bars.

During this time, the company changed the wrapper from red to blue and dropped “Chocolate Crisp” from its title.

1955 Marked the First Year of Advertising the Product on Television.

Television was a new and very expensive advertising medium.

Not everyone could afford a television, but as time went on and prices dropped, they became more affordable for the working class.

This was an excellent way for Rowntree’s to promote the Kit Kat bar to its target audience.

The slogan “Have a break, have a Kit Kat” was used in conjunction with their TV commercials in 1957 to promote the bar as a worker’s chocolate.

The slogan encouraged people to associate the Kit Kat bar with taking a break from work.

It was also associated with the ideal snack to go with tea or coffee during your break.

Rowntree’s most successful product was Kit Kat.

Within two years of its launch, Kit Kat became Rowntree’s best-selling product.

In 1988, Nestle acquired Rowntree’s and is currently the owner of Kit Kat in most of the world except in the United States where it is made by Reese’s Candy Company.

Nestle agreed to maintain the same ingredients and production of Kit Kat as it was already a popular chocolate bar.

Wafer was used in Kit Kat to keep production costs low.

The use of wafer as a filling helped to keep production costs lower to offer an affordable chocolate bar for the working class.

If the bar was made of solid chocolate, the production costs would have been higher because cocoa beans were more expensive than a biscuit wafer.

Kit Kat Chunky was introduced in 1999.

The change in size allowed Nestle to market the same product to a slightly different audience.

It was easy to market as Kit Kat already had a reputation for being a great chocolate bar, so those who bought regular Kit Kat wanted to try out the new size.

There are now over 300 flavors of Kit Kat.

The first flavor variant of Kit Kat was orange, released in 1996.

Since 2000, over 200 limited edition and seasonal flavors of Kit Kat have been produced, most of which were in Japan.

They have experimented with not only sweet flavors but also flavors that exist in Japanese culture such as wasabi, sake, matcha tea, miso soup, soy sauce, and Tokyo banana.

Next time you buy a Kit Kat bar, check out the unique and wonderful flavors they have created and think about the origins of this delicious chocolate bar.

FAQ

1. What is the history behind Kit Kat?

Kit Kat is a chocolate-covered wafer bar that was created by Rowntree’s of York, England in 1935. The bar was originally called “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp” and it was renamed “Kit Kat Chocolate Crisp” in 1937.

2. Why is the name “Kit Kat”?

There is no clear explanation on how the name “Kit Kat” came about. Some say it was named after a London literary and political club, while others say it was named after a type of musical instrument called a “kit cat”.

3. How many Kit Kat flavors are there?

There are over 200 different flavors of Kit Kat available around the world. Some unique flavors include green tea, wasabi, and sweet potato in Japan, and a purple yam flavor in the Philippines.

4. What is the meaning behind the “Have a break, have a Kit Kat” slogan?

The “Have a break, have a Kit Kat” slogan was first introduced in 1958 and it has become one of the most recognizable slogans in advertising. The slogan suggests that taking a break and enjoying a Kit Kat can help people relax and recharge, which can ultimately lead to increased productivity.