French Snail Farm Announces Robbery of €90K Value of Snails
Thieves made off with snails valued at ninety thousand euros from a farm in northern France that provides for high-end eateries.
The snail farm in Bouzy, close to the city of Reims, reported that its complete inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just ahead of the festive period.
The thieves broke into the farm during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a border fence before entering farm buildings.
Police were notified days after the incident, and investigators are currently pursuing leads.
In the meantime, the farm is striving to replenish its supplies to satisfy end-of-year orders from clients.
Escargot: A French Gourmet Treat
Escargot are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically cooked in butter with garlic or white wine before being removed from their shell.
Producers in France often see a increase in demand around the month of December, as people indulge with the dish for Christmas and New Year's Day festivities.
“This is certainly not the type of announcement we expected we’d share as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a message regarding the incident.
They went on to describe the event as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the entire team,” adding, “We are trying our best to replenish our supplies to satisfy our clients for the festive period.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images taken after the burglary reveal shelves and refrigerators 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,” the farm manager commented.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
This producer has previously supplied restaurants including award-winning venues in Reims, as well as specialty food shops and individual customers.
Currently, the business is focused on recovering and making sure that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled despite the significant loss.
