The Beginning

In the 1930s, British confectionery company Rowntree's founded KitKat in the United Kingdom. The vision was to create a chocolate bar that could be consumed on-the-go without creating a mess, which lead to the birth of KitKat.

In 1935, a heartwarming treat named "Rowntree's Chocolate Crisp" hit the shelves in stores around the United Kingdom. This delectable snack consisted of layers of wafer cake, covered in creamy milk chocolate. Fast forward to now, and we all know and love it as Nestle KitKat. This somewhat simple name was derived from the Kit Kat Club, an exclusive 18th-century club for the elite in London. The name was chosen to add a hint of sophistication and grandness to this sweet and smooth snack.

When the 1950s came, the KitKat brand was distributed to the Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia and Canada, where Rowntree had already established a presence. To date, KitKat remains the first choice when needing a quick nibble.

With the help of four TV advertisements and a press campaign, Donald Gillies of the London-based advertising agency JWT initially introduced the catchphrase "Have a break, have a Kit Kat" in 1958. This catchy slogan promoted KitKat as the ultimate snack for taking a break and relaxing, even if it is just for a few seconds or minutes, while you savour the explosion of the various ingredients in your mouth.