Product History: Kit Kat Chocolate

The Kit Kat and Kit Cat names were trademarked in 1911 by the Rowntree’s company based in York, United Kingdom. The first Kit Kat concept appeared in the 1920’s when Rowntree’s launched a brand of boxed chocolates named Kit Cat, which was discontinued in the 1930’s. The original 4 finger bar was developed after a worker at the Rowntree’s York factory put a suggestion in a suggestion box for a snack that “A man could take to work in his pack”. The 4 finger bar was launched on August 29th 1935 under the name “Rowntree’s Chocolate Crisp”. In 1937 the bar was renamed to Kit Kat chocolate crisp and began to incorporate “Break” into its advertising. In the 1940-50’s after its success in the UK, Kit Kat was exported to Canada, South Africa, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The Kit Kat became blue between 1944 and 1947. As a result of milk shortages after the end of WWII, the milk chocolate was suspended and a dark chocolate was used instead. In 1958 Donald Gills created the iconic advertising line “Hav