CHOCOLATE BAR WARS: THE SAGA CONTINUES ... (Nestle Kit Kat)

Member Name: jedimastergray73

Product:	Nestle Kit Kat
Date:	22/09/09 (168 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It may be 74 years old but the humble Kit Kat is still going strong ...

Disadvantages: but are there just too many new & limited edition flavours, shapes and sizes being created !

~~~ INTRODUCTION ~~~

The following review is an adapted version of a review that I recently wrote and published on Ciao. Whilst the review on Ciao was centered around the white chocolate Kit Kat this review is now a celebration of the classic four fingered Kit Kat itself !!!

In my original review I had intended to write a quite short review focussing on the Kit Kat White Chocolate. However, whilst "Googling" the product to try and find out when it was first released I stumbled across some fascinating Kit Kat facts !

The end result was a massive review. This was because as well as expressing my opinions on the White Chocolate Kit Kat itself - I also;

* explored the history of the Kit Kat
* examined the origins of flavour variants
* and shared some fascinating Kit Kat related "trivia"

The review on Ciao recieved a great deal of positive feedback ... with many of the comments relating to the history and trivia aspects of the review rather than the actual product. I thoroughly enjoyed writing this review so decided to adapt it to focus on Kit Kats in general and publish it here on dooyoo ...

HOPE YOU ENJOY READING IT !
ALL THE BEST,
GRAY

~~~ A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY ... ~~~

Or, should I say, 74 years ago in a city called London ...

It was 1935 and times were bleak. The threat of war was ever present and luxuries were rare ... but this didn't stop Rowntree's Of York from producing an exciting new chocolate bar. The name of this new treat was "ROWNTREE'S CHOCOLATE CRISP" and it was sold only in London and a select few areas in the South East of England.

The "ROWNTREE'S CHOCOLATE CRISP" was a chocolate bar with four fingers and each finger had three layers of creme filled wafer covered with an outer layer of chocolate. If you think that it sounds familiar then you certainly know your chocolate ... and two years later it was re-named as the "KIT KAT CHOCOLATE CRISP". It was an overnight success story ...

During the Second World War (1939 and 1945) the "KIT KAT CHOCOLATE CRISP" . became an extremely popular product and was even portrayed by the Government as being the ideal food for active people during the war-time period !!!

In 1945 the Second World War was over and "KIT KAT CHOCOLATE CRISP" changed from a red a white wrapper to a blue wrapper. This was to signify that the chocolate being used was no longer milk chocolate but plain chocolate (due to food shortages). However, by 1947 the food shortages had ended. Milk chocolate was once again widely available so the product was re-introduced with it's red and white packaging ... it was also re-named as simply being a "KIT KAT".

Ten years later (in 1957) the "KIT KAT" was one of the very first products to be advertised on TV.

In 1988 Rowntree's was taken over by Nestle and Kit Kats became their number one product. The "HAVE A BREAK, HAVE A KIT KAT" Campaign was Nestle's largest advertising campaign ever and it clearly paid off ... Kit Kats are still around today and enjoyed by millions of people across the world on a daily basis !!!

~~~ CHOCOLATE BAR WARS ~~~

Being the market leader isn't always easy and Nestle have had fierce competition from rival companies (such as Cadburies and Mars) over the years. In the 1990s the strategy Nestle adopted was to introduce new and unique flavour variants to their existing brands and market them as limited or special editions ... it was also a strategy that rival companies also used. "KIT KATS" may have survived the Second World War but his something entirely different ... the Chocolate Bar Wars had begun !!!

~~~ KIT KAT REVEALS IT'S "DARK SIDE" ~~~

In 1996 the "KIT KAT ORANGE" was released and was closely followed by "KIT KAT DARK" and "KIT KAT MINT". The manufacturers may have had to use plain chocolate after the Second World War because of food shortages but this time the choice was purely strategic. These new and exciting flavour variants were quickly snapped up and whilst the standard MILK CHOCOLTE KIT KATS were still on the shelves we suddenly had a greater choice.

However, as the other main chocolate companies were also producing their very own variants of classic chocolate bars we maybe had too much choice ??? The rivalry continued and each company flooded the market with new versions of classic products ... new flavours, special editons and chocolate bars which were for sale for a limited period only. If you used to find it difficult to choose between a two-finger Kit Kat and a four-finger Kit Kat then now a trip to the supermarket was turning into a nightmare. Also there were as many new flavours that were actually not liked as well as the flavours that became best sellers.

There were many products that failed and were quickly removed from the production lines. There were also many success stories ... variations of KIT KATS that proved so popular that they are still around today such as the original "KIT KAT ORANGE".

~~~ THE KIT KAT STRIKES BACK ~~~

Nestle have perhaps made the KIT KAT it's champion product over the years and with the addition of the "KIT KAT MINI", the "KIT KAT CHUNKY", "KIT KAT CUBES" and the recent launch of the "KIT KAT SENSES" range it clearly remains one of the nation's favourite chocolate bars.

~~~ RETURN OF THE FLAVOUR ~~~

Originally released as a Limited Edition the Kit Kat White Chocolate bar proved so popular with consumers that Nestle decided to bring it back as a permanent member of the Kit Kat range. There was a even a website created by Kit Kat enthusiasts to share information. Rumours surrounding the White Chocolate Kit Kat's "return" were shared online for weeks until the news broke that someone had just bought one. Nestle hadn't quite realised that there would be such a demand for them and as the first wave quickly sold out the website became a place to post "sightings" where it was being sold ...

~~~ A FEW THOUGHTS ~~~

I often feel overwhelmed by the sheer choice that is actually available on the shelves. Brands that I loved have been transformed into new and exciting products before my very eyes. I buy them and try them (like most people do) and sadly am often left feeling disappointed. Even worse I buy them, love them and return to the supermarket to discover that they were only available during the summer.

AND CALL ME BORING IF YOU LIKE, BUT, SOMETIMES I JUST FANCY A KIT KAT !!! THAT'S RIGHT I WANT A BOG STANDARD FOUR FINGER MILK CHOCOLATE KIT KAT ... NOT A KIT KAT WITH A FANCY NAME, NOT A KIT KAT WITH A NEW AND EXCITING TASTE, NOT A KIT KAT WITH COOL NEW SHAPE AND NOT A KIT KAT THAT'S A LIMITED EDITION ... I SIMPLY WANT A KIT KAT !!!

Whatever happens, one thing is clear ... over the coming months the shelves will (once again) see a number of new limited edition chocolate bars and re-invented favourites. Some will fail whilst others will succeed. Let's just hope the new ones that we genuinely like will stay around for a long time .. just like the humble KIT KAT has done since it was first introduced 74 years ago !!!

THE SAGA CONTINUES ...

************************************************* **********
Why not rush out to the shops right now and treat yourself to a KIT KAT ? Then maybe put the kettle on, make a brew ? After all, the famous TV Ad once reminded us to "Have A Break, Have A Kit Kat". If you do decide to have a break then please have a look at the "KIT KAT TRIVIA" that I have added to the end of this review for you to enjoy !!!

~~~ RANDOM KITKAT COFFEE BREAK TRIVIA ~

* Nestle estimate that around 120 tonnes of KITKATS are sold in the UK each day !!!
* In the Middle East KITKATS have three fingers !!!
* In Japan KITKAT vending machines are everywhere as well as selling KITKATS with CDs and Books !!!
* As part of Big Brother 7, Nestle and Channel 4 teamed up for a "Willy Wonka Style" promotion. 100 Golden Tickets were distributed inside KITKAT wrappers. The 100 people who found a Golden Ticket were entered into a draw to become a housemate !!!
* All around the world KITKAT has become a phenomenon. The sheer number of flavour varieties are mindblowing and include; apple, banana, cappuccino, caramel, cinnamon, coffee, hazelnut, honeycomb, kiwifruit, latte, lemon, mint, orange, peach, peanut butter, pineapple, pumpkin, strawberry and watermelon (there are many many more).
* Finally, two of the strangest varieties both come Japan where, depending on your mood, you can either tuck into a KITKAT SOY SAUCE or a KITKAT BUBBLEGUM !!!

I think I'll stick with my favourite, KITKAT White Chocolate, for now !!!

~~~ FINAL THOUGHTS ~~~

I can highly recommend Kit Kat bars to anyone. There may be hundreds of varieties of everyone's favourite chocolate bars on the shelves but Nestle have got this product spot on ... from the indulgent Kit Kat Senses range to the classic milk chocolate Kit Kat there really is a Kit Kat for everyone !!!

Thanks for taking the time to read this review. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed researching and writing it !!!

Summary: Have a break, have an "old skool" Kit Kat !!!