Thieves have stolen escargot worth €90,000 from a producer in the north of France that supplies gourmet eateries.
The snail farm in the Bouzy area, close to the city of Reims, reported that its entire stock of both fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just ahead of the festive period.
The thieves broke into the farm overnight into Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before accessing storage facilities.
Law enforcement were notified days after the incident, and investigators are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the business is striving to restock to meet holiday demand 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 extracted from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a surge in demand around the month of December, as people treat themselves with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is definitely not the kind of post we thought we’d write as the festive season approach,” the farm wrote in a message announcing the theft.
They continued to describe the event as “a shock, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the whole team,” noting, “We are trying our best to replenish our inventory to meet the needs of our customers for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Theft
Photos captured following the burglary reveal racks and freezers nearly completely emptied of snail products.
“A whole section of finished products was taken from the store, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne explained.
“This represented my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
The farm has previously supplied restaurants such as award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
At present, the farm is working hard to recovering and ensuring that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the major setback.
