A Snail Farm Reports Theft of €90,000 Value of Escargot
Burglars made off with snails valued at ninety thousand euros from a farm in the north of France that provides for gourmet restaurants.
The snail farm in Bouzy, close to the city of Reims, reported that its complete inventory of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just before the festive period.
The thieves broke into the farm overnight into Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before entering farm buildings.
Law enforcement received a complaint days after the incident, and officers are currently pursuing leads.
Meanwhile, the business is working to restock to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.
Escargot: A Traditional French Delicacy
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, typically cooked in butter with garlic or wine before being extracted from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a increase in sales around December, as consumers treat themselves with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is certainly not the kind of post we expected we’d write as the holidays approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a message announcing the incident.
The statement continued to characterize the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the entire team,” noting, “We are trying our best to replenish our supplies to meet the needs of our customers for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Photos captured after the theft show shelves and freezers almost cleared out of snail products.
“An entire section of finished products was taken from the warehouse, and raw material inventory from my laboratory,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to manage the holidays without any worries.”
This producer has previously supplied restaurants such as award-winning venues in Reims, as well as delicatessens and private clients.
At present, the business is working hard to bouncing back and ensuring that holiday orders can still be fulfilled despite the significant setback.
