French Farm Announces Theft of €90K Value of Snails
Thieves have stolen snails valued at ninety thousand euros from a producer in the north of France that supplies high-end restaurants.
The snail farm in Bouzy, near the city of Reims, stated that its entire stock of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just ahead of the festive period.
The thieves broke into the farm during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before entering storage facilities.
Law enforcement received a complaint later in the week, and officers are currently pursuing leads.
Meanwhile, the farm is working to restock to meet end-of-year demand from customers.
Escargot: A French Delicacy
Escargot are regarded as a culinary specialty in France, usually prepared in butter with garlic or wine before being removed from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a increase in demand during the month of December, as people treat themselves with the dish for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is definitely not the kind of post we expected we’d write as the holidays near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a message regarding the incident.
The statement went on to characterize the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the whole staff,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to satisfy our clients for the festive period.”
Consequences of the Theft
Images captured after the burglary reveal shelves and freezers nearly completely emptied of snail products.
“A whole section of finished products was taken from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” the farm manager commented.
“This represented my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided restaurants such as Michelin-starred restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
Currently, the farm is focused on bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be met despite the major setback.
