A Snail Farm Reports Robbery of €90,000 Value of Snails
Burglars made off with escargot valued at ninety thousand euros from a producer in the north of France that supplies high-end eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, near the city of Reims, reported that its entire stock of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just ahead of the holiday season.
The thieves gained entry to the farm during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before entering storage facilities.
Law enforcement received a complaint days after the incident, and officers are now on the trail.
Meanwhile, the business is working to restock to meet holiday demand from customers.
Escargot: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are regarded as a culinary specialty in France, usually cooked in butter with garlic or wine before being removed from their shells.
Farmers in France typically experience a increase in sales during the month of December, as consumers indulge with the specialty for Christmas and New Year’s festivities.
“This is definitely not the kind of announcement we expected we’d write as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a statement announcing the theft.
The statement continued to describe the event as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the whole team,” adding, “We are trying our best to restock our supplies to satisfy our customers for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Theft
Images taken following the theft show shelves and refrigerators nearly cleared out of escargot items.
“A whole section of finished products was taken from the store, and raw material stock from my laboratory,” the farm manager commented.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to manage the festive season without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided establishments such as award-winning restaurants in Reims, as well as specialty food shops and individual customers.
At present, the business is focused on bouncing back and making sure that holiday demand can still be met despite the major setback.
