A Snail Farm Announces Robbery of €90K Value of Snails
Thieves made off with escargot valued at €90,000 from a producer in northern France that provides for high-end eateries.
The snail farm in the Bouzy area, near Reims, reported that its complete inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just before the festive period.
The intruders gained entry to the farm overnight into Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before accessing farm buildings.
Law enforcement were notified later in the week, and investigators are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the business is working to replenish its supplies to satisfy holiday orders from clients.
Escargot: A French Gourmet Treat
Escargot are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically cooked in butter with garlic or white wine before being removed from their shells.
Producers in France typically experience a increase in sales during December, as consumers indulge with the specialty for Christmas and New Year’s festivities.
“This is definitely not the kind of announcement we thought we’d share as the holidays approach,” the farm wrote in a statement announcing the incident.
The statement went on to describe the robbery as “surprising, bewildering, and a serious setback to the entire team,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to meet the needs of our customers for the holidays.”
Impact of the Theft
Images taken after the burglary show racks and refrigerators almost cleared out of escargot items.
“A whole section of finished products was taken from the warehouse, and raw material inventory from my laboratory,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has in the past provided restaurants such as award-winning venues in the region, as well as specialty food shops and individual customers.
At present, the business is working hard to bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be met despite the major setback.
