Two of the legendary WONKA Golden Tickets have been found, the brand announced yesterday, turning up the heat in the hunt for the eight remaining tickets.

Eva E. of San Francisco was the first to have her ticket verified as a genuine WONKA Golden Ticket, which she found in a bar purchased at a Target store in Colma, Calif. The second winner, Jason C. of Southaven, Miss., who discovered his ticket in a bar he purchased at his local Walmart store, was not far behind. Both have won the Grand Prize of a lifetime -- no, not a tour of the legendary chocolate factory, but trips around the world with three guests, worth up to $40,000.

“We’re thrilled for Eva and Jason, and can’t wait to hear more about the adventures they have planned for their globe-trotting journeys,” says Patricia Bowles of Nestlé Confections & Snacks. “We look forward to celebrating as more ticket holders come forward.”

A total of 10 tickets were placed inside new WONKA Exceptionals, a collection of three varieties available in 3.5-oz. tablet bars (S.R.P.: $2.39) and 9.5-oz bags of individually wrapped minis (S.R.P: $4.29).

The WONKA Scrumdiddlyumptious Chocolate Bar is made with bits of toffee pieces, crispy cookies and crunchy peanuts wrapped in milk chocolate. The WONKA Chocolate Waterfall Bar features a combination of creamy white chocolate swirled in milk chocolate. The WONKA Domed Dark Chocolate Bar is made of rich dark chocolate topped with milk chocolate drops.

Each variety is marked with a Golden Ticket “burst” on the front and can be found at retail stores nationwide.

For those who don’t find a Golden Ticket, there are thousands of instant-win Purple Tickets hidden inside WONKA Exceptionals chocolate bars and bags of minis. Prizes include $500 airline vouchers, $50 Ticketmaster gift cards, $25 movie theater gift certificates and free WONKA Exceptionals chocolates.

The contest ends Aug. 31. No purchase necessary. For more information, visit www.wonka.com.