Nestle has unveiled the first KitKat using cocoa from its Income Accelerator Program (IAP).
The new chocolate bar, dubbed KitKat Breaks for Good, aims to connect consumers with farmers and raise awareness about the sustainability of cocoa used.
Launched in January 2022, the Nestle IAP helps close the living income gap of cocoa farmers and reduce the risk of child labour. At the same time, it seeks to advance agriculture practices and promote gender equality.
Corinne Gabler, head of confectionery and ice cream at Nestle, said KitKat has always embraced innovation, centred around its “Have a break, have a KitKat” tagline.
“Today, this innovation is brought to life through the Breaks for Good initiative that puts cocoa farmers at the centre of our product through our income accelerator program,” Gabler continued.
“We couldn’t think of a better brand than KitKat to represent our efforts to create meaningful impact in cocoa communities.”
The IAP also provides incentives for cocoa-farming families that enrol their kids in school, engage in agroforestry activities, implement good agriculture practices, and diversify their incomes.
Since its inception, the program has supported more than than 10,000 families in Côte d’Ivoire and is expanding to Ghana this year to include 30,000 families.
By 2030, it aims to reach an estimated 160,000 cocoa-farming families in the company’s global cocoa supply chain to create an impact at scale.
“As a partner on Nestlé’s sustainability journey, we are implementing solutions to source sustainable ingredients for Nestlé in ways that help restore the environment, support families, and increase incomes,” added Michiel van der Bom, product line director of cocoa chocolate, Europe & West Africa, Cargill.
“Through our partnership, we are building a stronger, more resilient supply chain together.”
By mid-2024, Nestlé plans to use segregated cocoa butter for all of its KitKat chocolate in Europe and expand to other regions in the coming years.
The KitKat Breaks for Good will be available on store shelves starting from January in 27 European countries and from May in the UK.
In addition, a limited-edition KitKat, with 70 per cent dark chocolate made with cocoa sourced from the income accelerator, has been launched in the UK market as a pilot.
