A Snail Farm Announces Theft of €90K Value of Escargot
Thieves made off with snails worth ninety thousand euros from a producer in northern France that supplies gourmet restaurants.
The snail farm in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, stated that its complete inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “real blow” just ahead of the holiday season.
The intruders broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, cutting a border fence before entering farm buildings.
Police were notified days after the incident, and investigators are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the farm is striving to restock to meet holiday demand from clients.
Snails: A French Gourmet Treat
Escargot are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically prepared in garlic butter or white wine before being removed from their shells.
Producers in France typically experience a increase in demand around December, as consumers treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is certainly not the type of announcement we expected we’d write as the holidays approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a message announcing the theft.
The statement went on to characterize the event as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire team,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to restock our inventory to satisfy our clients for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Theft
Images taken after the theft reveal shelves and refrigerators almost completely emptied of escargot items.
“An entire section of prepared goods was stolen from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne explained.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had just the right amount to get through the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided restaurants including award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and individual customers.
Currently, the business is focused on bouncing back and making sure that holiday orders can still be fulfilled in spite of the significant loss.
