Are vegan Kit Kats being discontinued?

January 12, 2026 •

4 min read

In early 2025, Nestlé announced its decision to cease production of the plant-based KitKat V in nearly all markets, later confirming its removal from the UK and Ireland as well. This news comes after the vegan chocolate bar, first launched in 2021, experienced a series of production and sales challenges.

Quick Summary

Nestlé has officially and completely discontinued its vegan KitKat V globally, citing high production costs and waning sales as the primary reasons for the decision. The last remaining stock was sold in select markets like the UK during the summer of 2025.

Key Points

Discontinued Globally: As of summer 2025, Nestlé has officially and completely discontinued its plant-based KitKat V worldwide.
Low Sales & High Cost: The primary reasons cited were waning sales and the high costs and manufacturing complexity of producing the product.
Final Stock: The last remaining stock was sold off in the UK and Ireland by summer 2025.
Market Challenges: Poor retail placement and a higher price point compared to the standard KitKat contributed to its low sales volume.
Plenty of Alternatives: Several brands, including Trupo Treats and Buttermilk, offer alternative dairy-free wafer bars to fill the void.
Niche vs. Mass Market: The discontinuation highlights the challenges faced by major brands in introducing niche, premium-priced vegan products into the mainstream market.

Confirmed: Vegan Kit Kats Have Been Discontinued

As of summer 2025, the vegan KitKat V is no longer being produced by Nestlé and has been fully discontinued worldwide. The final phase-out occurred in the UK and Ireland, where the product was available until the remaining stock sold out. This marks the end of Nestlé's venture into a mass-market plant-based version of its iconic chocolate bar.

The initial signs of discontinuation began earlier in 2025 when Nestlé pulled the product from most global markets, a move that stirred significant discussion within the vegan community. The ultimate decision to cease all production came after a detailed assessment of market performance and manufacturing viability.

Why Did Nestlé Discontinue the Vegan Kit Kat?

Several factors contributed to Nestlé's decision to discontinue the plant-based KitKat. The company faced a challenging combination of market forces, manufacturing complexities, and consumer behaviors that ultimately made the product unsustainable.

Complex and Expensive Manufacturing: The vegan version required a dedicated, separate production facility to prevent cross-contamination, which significantly increased operational costs compared to the standard dairy KitKat. This higher unit cost was a major financial hurdle.
Waning Global Demand: Despite an initial positive reception, sales for the KitKat V reportedly declined over time in many regions. While the overall vegan chocolate market is still growing, the mainstream demand for this specific product was not strong enough to sustain production at scale.
Higher Retail Price: The increased production costs inevitably led to a higher retail price for the vegan bar compared to the original. This price premium deterred many consumers, who are often price-sensitive, from making repeat purchases.
Poor Supermarket Placement: The bar was often placed in the dedicated 'Free From' or vegan aisles rather than alongside the traditional KitKats. This limited its visibility to mainstream shoppers who might have otherwise tried it.
Taste and Market Perception: While many vegans enjoyed the flavor, some pointed out differences from the original, with the vegan version using rice milk and having a different texture. The fact that it still contained a "may contain milk" warning also made it unsuitable for those with severe dairy allergies.

The Timeline of the Vegan Kit Kat's Discontinuation


Date	Event	Details
February 2021	Announced Launch	Nestlé confirms it will be launching a vegan KitKat, dubbed 'KitKat V', later that year.
Late 2021	UK Pilot Launch	The KitKat V is piloted in the UK, developed in Nestlé's York R&D center.
2022	EU Expansion	The plant-based KitKat rolls out to 15 countries across Europe.
January 2025	Initial Discontinuation	Nestlé confirms to media outlets that the KitKat V is being discontinued in all markets except the UK and Ireland.
August/Sept 2025	UK & Ireland Discontinuation	Nestlé confirms production has ceased entirely, and the product is being pulled from shelves in its last remaining markets.
Autumn 2025	Final Stock Depletion	Final stocks of the vegan KitKat are sold in select UK supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury's while supplies last.

What are the alternatives to vegan Kit Kats?

With Nestlé's vegan version gone for good, fans of the dairy-free chocolate wafer have to turn to other options to satisfy their craving. A number of alternative brands have stepped up to fill the void left by the KitKat V.

Other Brands and Products for Dairy-Free Wafers

Trupo Treats Mega Wafer Bars: Often mentioned as a direct alternative, this brand is known for its dairy-free wafer bars that closely replicate the experience of a KitKat Chunky.
Break Free Candy: This brand also specializes in vegan confectionery and offers a range of options, including wafer bars.
Buttermilk Plant-Powered Confectionery: Buttermilk offers a dairy-free wafer bar that provides a similar texture and crunch.
Unreal: While they don't produce a direct wafer bar, Unreal offers a wide array of vegan chocolate treats that are popular with consumers looking for dairy-free alternatives.
No Whey Foods: This company is a specialist in allergen-friendly and vegan chocolates, providing many options for those with dietary restrictions.

Conclusion: The End of an Era and Lessons Learned

Nestlé's decision to permanently discontinue the vegan KitKat serves as a significant case study in the evolving plant-based market. The withdrawal was not a reflection of the overall decline of veganism but rather the complex interplay of high production costs, low scale, and consumer sensitivity to price and convenience. The company prioritized its core dairy products, which remain more profitable and in higher demand. The vegan KitKat, once hailed as a major step forward for accessible vegan options, found itself struggling to find a sustainable place in the mainstream market, ultimately proving to be an expensive niche product. While it is a bittersweet moment for many vegan chocolate lovers, the market is still full of innovative smaller brands and alternatives for those seeking a plant-based fix. The experience also highlights the challenges major food brands face when trying to introduce premium, specialty products into a mass-market environment.

For more information on the plant-based industry and trends, you can refer to insights from industry publications.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, vegan Kit Kats, officially known as KitKat V, have been completely discontinued by Nestlé globally as of summer 2025.

Nestlé discontinued the vegan Kit Kat primarily due to a combination of declining sales, complex and costly manufacturing processes, and the product's higher price point compared to the original.

It is highly unlikely. The last remaining stock in the UK and Ireland was sold by the end of summer 2025. Any product still found would be surplus and not freshly produced.

The vegan Kit Kat was first launched in the UK in 2021 as a pilot project before being expanded to other European markets in 2022.

Several other brands offer dairy-free wafer bars, including Trupo Treats, Break Free Candy, and Buttermilk. Some customers also look to other vegan confectionery brands like Unreal or No Whey Foods.

While Nestlé has not ruled out future plant-based innovations, there are no current plans to revive the KitKat V. The company stated its focus will remain on classic, dairy-based KitKat variants.

The higher price was a result of increased manufacturing costs. The vegan version required its own dedicated production line to avoid cross-contamination, which was more expensive to run for a lower-volume product.