Nestlé is foraying into the plant-based chocolate market with the launch of its vegan KitKat in 2021.
The chocolate-coated wafer bar will soon come in a plant-based option that vegans can munch on minus the guilt—a request executives at the confectionary brand have been seeing as of late.
"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. This is a product for everyone who wants a little more plant-based in their life!" said Alexander von Maillot, Head of Confectionery at Nestlé.
KitKat V was developed by chocolate experts in Nestlé's confectionery research and development center in York, UK, the original home of KitKat. Efforts mounted to create a plant-based iteration that would taste just as good without the animal-based ingredients—an endeavor that was two years in the making.
"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," Louise Barrett, Head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Center in York said.
The certified vegan iteration of the beloved chocolate bar will use a rice-based ingredient instead of the usual milk. It will be made from 100% sustainable cocoa that's "sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with the Rainforest Alliance."
KitKat V will hit shelves in several countries across the globe later this year. According to the Nestlé website, it will only be available through the KitKat Chocolatory and selected retailers, to test the waters before for a wider roll-out.
Prior to KitKat V, Nestlé launched plant-based alternatives to dairy made from rice, oat, soy, coconut, pea, and almonds. 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.
"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," von Maillot said.
