Swiss food and beverage giant Nestlé is set to launch a vegan KitKat to be branded as KitKat V, this year across various countries.

KitKat V will be available only through the KitKat Chocolatory and selected retailers for testing the opportunity for a larger roll-out.

Nestlé said that KitKat V has been developed by chocolate experts in its confectionery research and development center in York, UK.

Commenting on the KitKat V launch, Louise Barrett – Head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Center in York said: “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.”

According to Nestlé KitKat V is certified vegan. The new vegan KitKat is said to have been made from fully sustainable cocoa procured via the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with the Rainforest Alliance.

KitKat V launch follows other recent innovations from the chocolate brand that include KitKat Ruby and KitKat Chocolatory Cacao Fruit Chocolate.

Nestlé had previously launched plant-based alternatives to dairy made from rice, oat, soy, pea, coconut, and almonds across categories. Some of the products are non-dairy ice cream, rice- and oat-based drinks, coffee creamers, plant-based cappuccinos and lattes, pea-based beverages, a vegan condensed milk alternative, and a variety of non-dairy cheese.

Alexander von Maillot – Head of Confectionery at Nestlé said: “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.”

  Alexander von Maillot, Confectionery industry news, KitKat, KitKat Chocolatory, KitKat V, Louise Barrett, Nestle