A Farm Announces Robbery of €90,000 Value of Escargot
Thieves made off with escargot valued at ninety thousand euros from a farm in northern France that provides for gourmet eateries.
The snail farm in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, reported that its entire inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just ahead of the festive period.
The intruders broke into the farm overnight into Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before entering storage facilities.
Law enforcement received a complaint later in the week, and investigators are currently pursuing leads.
In the meantime, the business is working to restock to satisfy holiday orders from clients.
Escargot: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, usually prepared in butter with garlic or wine before being removed from their shells.
Farmers in France typically experience a surge in demand during the month of December, as consumers indulge with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is certainly not the kind of announcement we expected we’d share as the holidays near,” the farm stated in a statement announcing the theft.
They went on to characterize the robbery as “surprising, bewildering, and a serious setback to the whole staff,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to meet the needs of our customers for the festive period.”
Impact of the Robbery
Photos taken following the theft reveal shelves and freezers almost cleared out of escargot items.
“An entire section of prepared goods was taken from the store, and unprocessed inventory from my laboratory,” the farm manager explained.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the holidays without any concerns.”
The farm has previously supplied establishments including award-winning restaurants in Reims, as well as delicatessens and private clients.
At present, the farm is focused on recovering and making sure that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the major setback.
