French Snail Farm Announces Robbery of €90,000 Value of Escargot
Thieves have stolen escargot valued at €90,000 from a farm in the north of France that provides for high-end eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in Bouzy, close to the city of Reims, stated that its entire inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just before the holiday season.
The thieves broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a border fence before accessing storage facilities.
Police were notified days after the incident, and investigators are now on the trail.
Meanwhile, the farm is striving to restock to meet holiday orders from customers.
Snails: A French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, typically cooked in butter with garlic or wine before being removed from their shell.
Producers in France often see a increase in demand during December, as people indulge with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is definitely not the type of post we expected we’d share as the holidays approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a statement regarding the incident.
They continued to characterize the event as “a shock, bewildering, and a serious setback to the whole team,” noting, “We are trying our best to replenish our inventory to satisfy our clients for the holidays.”
Impact of the Theft
Photos taken after the theft show racks and freezers nearly cleared out of escargot items.
“A whole section of prepared goods was stolen from the store, and raw material stock from my laboratory,” the farm manager commented.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided establishments including award-winning venues in Reims, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
Currently, the business is working hard to bouncing back and making sure that holiday demand can still be met despite the significant setback.
