French Snail Farm Reports Robbery of €90,000 Worth of Escargot
Burglars have stolen snails valued at €90,000 from a producer in northern France that provides for gourmet eateries.
The snail farm in Bouzy, near the city of Reims, reported that its complete stock of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just before the festive period.
The thieves broke into the property overnight into Monday, slicing through a border fence before accessing storage facilities.
Law enforcement received a complaint days after the incident, and investigators are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the business is working to replenish its supplies to satisfy end-of-year orders from clients.
Snails: A French Delicacy
Escargot are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically prepared in garlic butter or wine before being removed from their shell.
Farmers in France typically experience a surge in demand around the month of December, as consumers indulge with the specialty for Christmas and New Year's Day festivities.
“This is certainly not the type of post we expected we’d write as the holidays approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a message regarding the incident.
They went on to describe the event as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the entire staff,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to restock our inventory to satisfy our customers for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images taken following the burglary reveal shelves and freezers nearly completely emptied of escargot items.
“An entire section of prepared goods was taken from the store, and unprocessed stock from my laboratory,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne explained.
“This represented my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
This producer has in the past provided establishments such as award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and individual customers.
Currently, the farm is focused on bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be met in spite of the major setback.