French Snail Farm Reports Robbery of €90K Value of Snails
Thieves have stolen escargot valued at €90,000 from a farm in northern France that provides for high-end restaurants.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in Bouzy, close to Reims, reported that its complete inventory of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just ahead of the holiday season.
The intruders broke into the farm during the night leading to Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before entering farm buildings.
Law enforcement were notified later in the week, and officers are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the business is working to replenish its supplies to meet end-of-year demand from customers.
Escargot: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are considered a culinary specialty in France, usually cooked in garlic butter or white wine before being removed from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a increase in sales during the month of December, as consumers treat themselves with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is certainly not the kind of post we thought we’d write as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a statement announcing the incident.
The statement went on to describe the robbery as “a shock, bewildering, and a serious setback to the entire staff,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our supplies to meet the needs of our customers for the festive period.”
Impact of the Robbery
Images captured after the theft show shelves and freezers almost cleared out of escargot items.
“A whole section of finished products was taken from the warehouse, and raw material inventory from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“This represented my end-of-year stock… We had just the right amount to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
This producer has in the past provided restaurants including award-winning restaurants in Reims, as well as delicatessens and private clients.
At present, the business is working hard to recovering and making sure that holiday demand can still be fulfilled despite the significant loss.
