French Farm Reports Robbery of €90,000 Worth of Escargot
Burglars made off with escargot worth ninety thousand euros from a producer in the north of France that supplies high-end restaurants.
The snail farm in the Bouzy area, near Reims, reported that its entire inventory of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just ahead of the holiday season.
The intruders gained entry to the farm overnight into Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before accessing farm buildings.
Police received a complaint later in the week, and officers are currently pursuing leads.
In the meantime, the farm is striving to replenish its supplies to satisfy holiday orders from customers.
Snails: A Traditional French Delicacy
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, usually cooked in butter with garlic or white wine before being extracted from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a surge in demand around December, as people indulge with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day festivities.
“This is definitely not the kind of announcement we thought we’d share as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a message regarding the incident.
The statement went on to describe the robbery as “a shock, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the whole team,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to restock our inventory to meet the needs of our customers for the festive period.”
Impact of the Theft
Photos captured after the burglary reveal shelves and freezers nearly cleared out of snail products.
“A whole section of prepared goods was stolen from the store, and raw material inventory from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne explained.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to manage the festive season without any concerns.”
This producer has in the past provided establishments such as Michelin-starred venues in the region, as well as specialty food shops and individual customers.
At present, the business is focused on bouncing back and making sure that holiday orders can still be fulfilled in spite of the significant setback.
