A Farm Reports Theft of €90,000 Worth of Snails
Burglars have stolen snails worth €90,000 from a producer in the north of France that provides for gourmet restaurants.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to the city of Reims, stated that its complete inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just before the holiday season.
The intruders broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before accessing storage facilities.
Police received a complaint days after the incident, and officers are currently pursuing leads.
In the meantime, the business is striving to restock to satisfy end-of-year orders from clients.
Escargot: A French Gourmet Treat
Escargot are considered a French delicacy, typically cooked in garlic butter or white wine before being extracted from their shell.
Producers in France typically experience a surge in sales around December, as consumers indulge with the dish for Christmas and New Year’s festivities.
“This is certainly not the type of announcement we expected we’d write as the holidays approach,” the farm wrote in a message regarding the theft.
They went on to characterize the robbery as “a shock, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire staff,” adding, “We are trying our best to replenish our supplies to meet the needs of our customers for the holidays.”
Impact of the Robbery
Photos captured following the burglary reveal shelves and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of snail products.
“A whole section of finished products was stolen from the store, and raw material stock from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to manage the festive season without any concerns.”
The farm has previously supplied establishments including Michelin-starred venues in Reims, as well as delicatessens and private clients.
Currently, the business is working hard to bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the significant setback.
