A Farm Reports Theft of €90,000 Worth of Escargot
Thieves have stolen snails worth €90,000 from a producer in the north of France that provides for high-end eateries.
The snail farm in Bouzy, near Reims, stated that its entire inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just before the holiday season.
The intruders broke into the farm during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before entering farm buildings.
Police were notified later in the week, and investigators are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the farm is working to replenish its supplies to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.
Snails: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat
Escargot are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically cooked in garlic butter or white wine before being removed from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a increase in sales around December, as people treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is definitely not the kind of announcement we expected we’d write as the festive season approach,” the farm stated in a statement regarding the theft.
They went on to characterize the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the entire team,” adding, “We are trying our best to restock our inventory to meet the needs of our customers for the festive period.”
Impact of the Robbery
Images captured following the burglary reveal shelves and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of escargot items.
“An entire section of prepared goods was taken from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
This producer has previously supplied establishments including Michelin-starred restaurants in the region, as well as delicatessens and individual customers.
Currently, the business is working hard to bouncing back and making sure that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the major setback.
