Who owns KitKat?
KitKat is owned by Nestlé, which has held the brand since 1988. Fairtrade-certified in some markets, Rainforest Alliance-sourced in others.
Ownership sourceOwnership at a glance
Nestlé's ethics record
Nestlé is one of the most boycotted companies on the planet. Long-running criticism covers infant-formula marketing, groundwater extraction, cocoa supply-chain child labour and plastic packaging volume. It also runs large Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade sourcing programmes and reports a net-zero-by-2050 target.
Other brands Nestlé owns
Ownership records come from company brand directories, filings and acquisition announcements. Read our methodology.
Who owns KitKat? FAQs
Who owns KitKat?+
KitKat is owned by Nestlé, which has held the brand since 1988. Nestlé is the largest food company in the world, with more than 2,000 brands including Nescafé, KitKat, Perrier, Purina and Gerber.
When did Nestlé buy KitKat?+
Nestlé has owned KitKat since 1988.
Does the parent company change whether KitKat is ethical?+
It changes where your money ends up. Certifications like Leaping Bunny and B Corp are audited at brand level, so KitKat can hold marks its parent does not — but group-level policies on animal testing, sourcing and lobbying still apply to the profits.
What other brands does Nestlé own?+
In our database, Nestlé also owns Garden Gourmet, Gerber, Häagen-Dazs, Nescafé, Nespresso, Perrier, Purina, S.Pellegrino.