Which 1958 Kit Kat slogan encouraged consumers to pause for a chocolate break?

The 1958 Kit Kat slogan “Have a Break, Have a Kit Kat” connected the chocolate bar with taking a short pause during the day.

The line was created by advertising writer Donald Gilles for the J. Walter Thompson agency. It built on Kit Kat’s existing identity as a segmented bar that could be broken into pieces and shared or eaten gradually. The slogan turned that physical feature into a memorable daily ritual.

The campaign helped make Kit Kat one of the world’s most recognizable confectionery brands. Although the product’s name and packaging also mattered, the break idea gave the brand a distinctive position that could work across generations and countries.

The slogan is sometimes shortened in casual references to “Have a break,” but the canonical advertising line includes the product name. It should not be confused with the later American slogan “Gimme a break.”