A Snail Farm Reports Theft of €90K Worth of Escargot
Burglars made off with escargot valued at ninety thousand euros from a producer in the north of France that provides for high-end restaurants.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, reported that its complete inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just before the festive period.
The intruders broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before accessing storage facilities.
Police were notified later in the week, and investigators are currently pursuing leads.
Meanwhile, the farm is striving to replenish its supplies to meet end-of-year demand from customers.
Snails: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, typically prepared in butter with garlic or wine before being extracted from their shell.
Producers in France often see a increase in sales around December, as consumers treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year’s festivities.
“This is certainly not the type of post we expected we’d share as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a message announcing the theft.
They continued to describe the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the whole team,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to meet the needs of our clients for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images taken following the burglary show shelves and freezers nearly cleared out of escargot items.
“An entire section of finished products was taken from the warehouse, and raw material inventory from my laboratory,” the farm manager commented.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the festive season without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided restaurants such as award-winning restaurants in Reims, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
Currently, the business is focused on bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the significant loss.