Nestlé continues its plant-based pivot with a major portfolio boost –  the launch of the first vegan KitKat is on the horizon. KitKat V will be rolled out later this year while Nestlé Japan is unveiling a range of Nescafé lattes crafted with plant-based ingredients, meeting the rapidly growing interest in plant-based food.

The Swiss food giant has been on a run of plant-based NPD for months and now promises confectionery consumers its vegan version of the iconic chocolate wafer bar with no compromise on taste and texture. 

KitKat V – which promises the same familiar balance between crispy wafer and smooth chocolate – will be launched in several countries but will only be available through the Kit Kat Chocolatory and seleced retailers to test the opportunity for a wider roll-out.

This move comes as consumers continue to seek out different ways to balance their protein intake, move away from meat and dairy while lowering their diets’ environmental footprint. 

It’s also part of the food giant’s strategy to position the company toward high-growth categories and pivot its businesses to changing market conditions while renewing its commitment to healthy and nutritional food.

Months in the making
The vegan KitKat uses a rice-based formula as a milk substitute and took around two years to come to fruition. 

It is made from 100 percent sustainable cocoa sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with the Rainforest Alliance.

Chocolate experts developed KitKat V in Nestlé’s confectionery research and development center in York, UK, the original home of KitKat. They worked to make a vegan version that would live up to KitKat fans’ high expectations who have been calling for a vegan version.

“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,” says Louise Barrett, head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Center in the UK. 

Nestlé embraces plant-based 
Nestlé has been on an innovation trail since first adapting its strategy to become more plant-based focused a few years ago. 

Since then, it has widened its range of food and beverages suitable for vegan eating. 

It has been meeting the increasing plant-based trend with nutritious foods through brands like Garden Gourmet in Europe and the US vegetarian food innovator Sweet Earth in the US. 

Acquired by Nestlé in 2017, Sweet Earth unveiled the “Awesome Burger,” a bold move in the meat-free market that directly competes with rival products from the likes of Impossible Foods Beyond Meat.

Oat and almond latte
The newly-unveiled Nescafé plant-based latte range in Japan includes ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages for on-the-go or at home, soluble mixes that can be made by just adding hot water, and capsules for the popular Nescafé Dolce Gusto system.

The two varieties are oat latte and almond latte, both of which are blended with smooth Nescafé coffee.

The launch in Japan follows Nestlé plant-based coffee mixes’ earlier launches across several countries in Europe, Latin America and Oceania.

“We are championing the discovery of plant-based food and beverages at Nestlé, and our iconic Nescafé brand is embracing and leading this trend,” notes Philipp Navratil, head of beverages strategic business unit.

Dairy alternatives in focus The Nescafé plant-based latte range in Japan includes RTD beverages, soluble mixes that can be made by adding hot water, and capsules for the Nescafé Dolce Gusto system.Nestlé has already launched plant-based alternatives to dairy made from rice, oat, soy, coconut, pea and almonds across categories. 

These include non-dairy ice cream, coffee creamers, rice- and oat-based drinks, pea-based beverages, plant-based cappuccinos and lattes, a vegan condensed milk alternative, as well as a range of non-dairy cheese to complement existing plant-based burgers. 

Last summer, Nestlé developed a wide range of plant-based dairy alternatives, touted as having high credentials for nutrition and taste as well as being environmentally friendly. They include the Nesfit brand in Brazil. Made from yellow peas, a 200 ml glass of Nesfit Sabor Natural contains as much protein (7 g) and calcium as cow’s milk and is fortified with vitamins A and D.

In March, Nestlé Australia introduced a plant-based version of its cocoa malt beverage, Milo, that was first introduced in 1934. The new Milo replaces milk powder with soy and oats, and the core ingredients are the same as the original Milo – malt, barley and cocoa. 

Nestlé notes that its surveys have shown that people are interested in exploring more plant-based foods across different categories. 

“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,” says Alexander von Maillot, head of confectionery at Nestlé.

KitKat V also follows other recent innovations from KitKat, including KitKat Ruby and KitKat Chocolatory Cacao Fruit Chocolate, using the first chocolate made entirely from the cocoa fruit.