French Farm Reports Theft of €90,000 Worth of Snails
Burglars made off with escargot valued at ninety thousand euros from a producer in northern France that provides for gourmet restaurants.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, reported that its complete stock of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just ahead of the festive period.
The intruders broke into the property overnight into Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before accessing storage facilities.
Police received a complaint later in the week, and investigators are now on the trail.
Meanwhile, the business is striving to restock to satisfy holiday demand from customers.
Snails: A French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are regarded as a culinary specialty in France, typically cooked in butter with garlic or white wine before being removed from their shells.
Producers in France often see a increase in sales during December, as people indulge with the specialty for Christmas and New Year's Day festivities.
“This is definitely not the type of post we expected we’d share as the festive season approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a statement announcing the theft.
The statement continued to describe the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the whole staff,” adding, “We are trying our best to replenish our supplies to satisfy our customers for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Theft
Images taken after the theft reveal racks and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of snail products.
“An entire section of prepared goods was stolen from the warehouse, and raw material stock from my production area,” the farm manager explained.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to manage the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has previously supplied establishments including Michelin-starred venues in Reims, as well as delicatessens and individual customers.
Currently, the business is working hard to recovering and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be fulfilled despite the significant loss.
