A Farm Reports Theft of €90K Worth of Escargot
Burglars made off with snails worth €90,000 from a farm in the north of France that supplies gourmet eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, reported that its complete inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “real blow” just before the holiday season.
The thieves gained entry to the property during the night leading to Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before accessing farm buildings.
Law enforcement received a complaint later in the week, and officers are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the farm is striving to replenish its supplies to meet holiday orders from clients.
Snails: A French Delicacy
Escargot are considered a French delicacy, usually cooked in garlic butter or wine before being extracted from their shells.
Farmers in France typically experience a surge in demand around the month of December, as consumers indulge with the dish for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is definitely not the type of announcement we thought we’d share as the holidays approach,” the farm wrote in a message announcing the incident.
The statement went on to characterize the robbery as “a shock, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the entire team,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to restock our supplies to satisfy our customers for the holidays.”
Impact of the Robbery
Photos taken following the theft show shelves and freezers nearly cleared out of snail products.
“A whole section of finished products was stolen from the store, and unprocessed stock from my laboratory,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to get through the festive season without any concerns.”
The farm has in the past provided restaurants such as award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as delicatessens and private clients.
At present, the business is focused on recovering and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be fulfilled despite the major loss.
