Who Owns KitKat?
KitKat is owned by Nestlé, the world's largest food and beverage company. The brand was originally created by Rowntree's in 1935 and acquired by Nestlé in 1988. KitKat operates under Nestlé's confectionery division headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland.
Parent Company
Nestlé
Acquired
1988
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Vevey, Switzerland
Who Owns KitKat?
- Parent Company: Nestlé
- Ownership Type: Acquired
- Acquisition Year: 1988
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: SIX Swiss Exchange: NESN
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| KitKat | Nestlé | Acquired |
History of KitKat
- Founded: 1935
- Founders: Rowntree's (original creator)
- Acquired by Nestlé: 1988
KitKat was created in 1935 by Rowntree's, a British confectionery company, as a uniquely engineered chocolate bar featuring crispy wafer layers coated with milk chocolate. The product became highly successful in the United Kingdom and Europe. In 1988, Nestlé acquired Rowntree's, bringing KitKat into its global confectionery portfolio. Under Nestlé ownership, KitKat expanded massively into new markets and flavors. The brand became famous for its "Give me a break, give me a break, give me a break of KitKat" advertising slogan. Today, KitKat is sold in over 100 countries and is one of the world's top-selling chocolate bars.
About Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and beverage company by revenue. Founded in 1866, Nestlé has grown from a small Swiss milk company into a global powerhouse with operations in 186 countries. The company's product portfolio spans multiple categories including baby food, bottled water, breakfast cereals, coffee and tea, confectionery, dairy products, ice cream, frozen food, pet foods, and snacks. Nestlé maintains market leadership across diverse food and beverage categories globally through its multiple business divisions.
- Founded: 1866
- Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: SIX Swiss Exchange: NESN
- Revenue: $100.1 billion (2024)
Where Is KitKat Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Vevey, Switzerland
- Manufacturing / Operations: United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, United States, Mexico
Brands Owned by Nestlé
- Baby Ruth - Chocolate candy bar brand owned by Nestlé, featuring peanuts, caramel, and choco...
- Butterfinger - Chocolate candy bar brand owned by Ferrero Group, known for its crispy, flaky te...
- DiGiorno - Frozen pizza brand owned by Nestlé, known for its rising crust and quality ingre...
- Dreyer's - Ice cream brand owned by Nestlé, offering a wide range of ice cream flavors and ...
- Gerber - Baby food and nutrition brand owned by Nestlé, providing infant nutrition produc...
- Häagen-Dazs - Premium ice cream brand owned by Nestlé, known for high-quality ingredients and ...
- Lean Cuisine - Frozen meal brand owned by Nestlé, offering portion-controlled, low-calorie meal...
- Maggi - Food seasoning and instant meal brand owned by Nestlé, offering soups, seasoning...
- Nescafé - Coffee brand owned by Nestlé, specializing in instant and ready-to-drink coffee ...
- Nespresso - Premium coffee system brand owned by Nestlé, offering espresso machines and coff...
- Perrier - Sparkling water brand owned by Nestlé, known for its distinctive green bottle an...
- Pro Plan - American premium pet food brand known for its advanced nutrition formulas and sp...
- Purina - Pet food brand owned by Nestlé, offering nutrition products for dogs and cats ac...
- S.Pellegrino - Premium sparkling water brand owned by Nestlé, sourced from Italian springs....
- Smarties - Colorful chocolate candy brand owned by Nestlé, featuring candy-coated chocolate...
- Stouffer's - Frozen food brand owned by Nestlé, offering frozen meals, entrées, and side dish...
KitKat Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Iconic chocolate bar with distinctive wafer texture
- +World-leading brand recognition and heritage since 1935
- +Wide variety of flavors and regional variants
- +Consistent quality and taste across global markets
- +Strong Nestlé support for innovation and distribution
Considerations
- -Higher price point compared to generic chocolate bars
- -Environmental concerns regarding chocolate sourcing
- -Packaging waste and sustainability challenges
- -Sugar content and health concerns with confectionery category
Frequently Asked Questions About KitKat
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
KitKat on AmazonCompetitors to KitKat
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars Inc | USA | 1941 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders | |
| Mondelez International | United Kingdom | 1824 | Mass Market | Global | All Genders | |
| Hershey | USA | 1900 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders | |
| Mars Inc | USA | 1974 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders | |
| Mars Inc | USA | 1960 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders | |
| Mars Inc | USA | 1936 | Mass Market | North America | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
M&M's
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
American brand of candy-coated chocolate confections produced by Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's best-selling candy brands.
Cadbury
Owned by Mondelez International
British multinational confectionery brand known for chocolate bars, Dairy Milk, Creme Eggs, and other confectionery products.
Hershey's
Owned by The Hershey Company
Iconic American chocolate brand known for Hershey's Milk Chocolate bars, Kisses, and various chocolate confections.
Skittles
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
American brand of fruit-flavored candy known for its colorful shell coating and "Taste the Rainbow" slogan, produced by Mars, Incorporated.
Galaxy Chocolate
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
British chocolate brand owned by Mars, Incorporated, known for smooth and creamy chocolate bars and confectionery products.
Maltesers
Owned by Mars, Incorporated
British chocolate confectionery brand owned by Mars, Incorporated, consisting of malted milk balls covered in milk chocolate. Originally launched in the UK in 1936 under the name "Energy Balls."
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: KitKat competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Nestlé Stock Information
Jobs at Nestlé
Latest News About KitKat
Related Articles About KitKat
View more articles
50 Brands You Didn't Know Were Owned by the Same Company
From Dove soap and Hellmann's mayo to PlayStation and Columbia Pictures, these 50 brand pairs share a corporate parent that might surprise you.
Holiday Shopping: Who You're Really Buying From This Season
During the holidays, you buy gifts from dozens of brands. But most of your spending goes to the same few corporations. Here is the corporate reality behind holiday gift giving.
Foreign Ownership of American Brands: A Complete Guide
Many iconic American brands are owned by foreign corporations. From Budweiser to Trader Joe's to Ben & Jerry's, discover which 'American' brands have overseas owners.
People Also Searched
Discover popular brands and companies in the Food & Beverage category and related searches from other users.
7 Up
American lemon-lime flavored carbonated soft drink brand known for its crisp, clean taste and caffeine-free formula.
AHA
Flavored sparkling water brand owned by The Coca-Cola Company, offering zero-calorie hydration with natural flavors.
Annie's
American brand of organic and natural food products including mac and cheese, snacks, and baking mixes.