The fascinating backstories behind the naming of Kit Kat
The world-renowned candy bar Kit Kat, with its crispy wafer fingers covered in creamy chocolate coating was launched in the year 1935. Ever since, it has ruled the taste buds of children and adults alike worldwide. In fact, it has been the leading Halloween treat for generations now. Reports suggest that UK alone sells a whooping 1 billion Kit Kats on an average every year. But for ages, people have wondered what Kit Kat means and how did this lip-smacking candy bar got its catchy name. Today, let us uncoil the mystery in the history of its naming.
Popular Origin Stories Behind Kit Kat’s Naming
There are, in fact, multiple origin stories behind Kit Kat’s name. You will be surprised to know that the name Kit Kat or Kit Cat was not always used for the chocolate covered wafers we know today. The story of how it got its name started in the 1911. Joseph Rowntree, a head confectioner of the manufacturer Nestle, registered the names Kit Kat and Kit Cat. There are multiple stories that revolve around how Rowntree came up with this name.
The story of clubs and magazines
Some believe that the treat owes its name to an English club named Kit Cat. At this club, a painter, Sir Godfrey Kneller’s artworks were exhibited during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The speciality of this club was that it had significantly low ceilings. As a result, it could only accommodate paintings of a specific size, which came to be known as the ‘kit-cat size.’ However, this story does not make sense because the chocolate was not invented then. Additionally, a club named the Whig Party Club existed during the 17th century in London, known as the Kit Kat club. This place was named after Christopher Katt, a pastry chef and pie maker. He often supplied tarts to the club. His shortened form of the name was what got Kit Kat its iconic name, the theory goes.
Some also say that Rowntree decided on this name after Kit Kat, a popular nightclub in London. However, this club existed in the 1920s and the name was coined in 1911. So, again, this story does not fit. Other than these, the term Kit Kat was commonly used during that time. So, maybe these clubs were not a reason for Rowntree to choose the name.
Americans believe that Kit Kat derived its unique name from the magazine by the same name that was published in early 1800s in Pennsylvania. The weekly magazine was popular as it was targeted to the ageing community and was sold for only 50 cents.
The Kappa Alpha Theta theory
Of all the ones we listed above, the most popular and perhaps plausible story behind the naming of Kit Kat traces back to the wife of Kit Kat’s inventor Mrs. Rowntree. Mrs. Rowntree was a member of a sorority group called ‘Kappa Alpha Theta’ that later inspired her husband to come up with the name. As per speculations, it was taken out of the acronym “Keep In touch, Kappa Alpha Theta,” the slogan of the sorority group!
The crunchy sound of the candy was the inspiration
Though Rowntree registered Kit Kat's name in 1911, he did not do anything about it till the 1920s. Instead of using it for the chocolate-covered wafers, he used this name for a box of chocolates. According to Nestle, Rowntree had officially coined the name in 1935 as he thought the candy bar made a crunchy 'kit-kat' sound when a bite was taken. However, Rowntree named the chocolate-covered wafers 'Rowntree's Chocolate Crisps'. But George Harris, the marketing director of Nestle, found this name boring. Finally, he got rid of this name and introduced Kit Kat, the 'four-finger chocolate-covered wafer'. This product remained popular in the UK, even during World War II. Eventually, it started spreading to the rest of the world. In the 1950s, the tagline 'Have a break, Have a Kit Kat' was born. And well, this winner of a tagline exists even today!