Nestlé has expanded its plant-based offering with the launch of KitKat V.

The new vegan alternative, which is now available in the UK is made using 100 per cent certified sustainable cocoa, sourced through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan in conjunction with the Rainforest Alliance.

The bar was developed by chocolatiers and food scientists in Nestlé’s Research and Development centre in York and retails for £1.

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It is also certified vegan by the Vegan Society.

“Our challenge when we set out to create a vegan-friendly KitKat was to recreate this iconic product using plant-based alternatives,” Nestlé head of confectionary product technology Louise Barrett said.

“To achieve this, we worked very hard to get the right balance between the milk alternative and the cocoa. The result is a vegan chocolate that we’re very proud of, and I hope all KitKat fans will love it as much as we do.”

The move comes as the number of vegans in Britain rose between 2014 and 2019, from 150,000 to 600,000 respectively.