A Farm Reports Robbery of €90K Value of Snails
Thieves have stolen snails valued at €90,000 from a producer in the north of France that provides for gourmet restaurants.
The snail farm in Bouzy, close to the city of Reims, reported that its entire inventory of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just ahead of the holiday season.
The intruders broke into the farm overnight into Monday, slicing through a border fence before accessing farm buildings.
Police received a complaint days after the incident, and officers are currently pursuing leads.
Meanwhile, the business is striving to restock to satisfy end-of-year demand from clients.
Escargot: A French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are regarded as a culinary specialty in France, usually prepared in garlic butter or wine before being extracted from their shells.
Farmers in France typically experience a surge in demand around December, as people indulge with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is certainly not the type of announcement we thought we’d write as the festive season approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a message regarding the incident.
They continued to characterize the event as “a shock, bewildering, and a serious setback to the entire team,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to meet the needs of our clients for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images captured after the burglary show racks and freezers almost cleared out of escargot items.
“An entire section of finished products was taken from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my laboratory,” the farm manager explained.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided establishments including award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as delicatessens and private clients.
Currently, the farm is working hard to bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be fulfilled in spite of the major setback.
