Thieves made off with escargot valued at ninety thousand euros from a farm in the north of France that provides for high-end eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, near the city of Reims, reported that its complete inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “real blow” just ahead of the holiday season.
The thieves broke into the farm during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before entering farm buildings.
Law enforcement received a complaint days after the incident, and officers are now on the trail.
Meanwhile, the business is working to restock to satisfy holiday demand from customers.
Escargot: A French Gourmet Treat
Escargot are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically prepared in butter with garlic or wine before being extracted from their shells.
Farmers in France often see a increase in demand during December, as people treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is certainly not the type of post we thought we’d share as the holidays near,” the farm wrote in a message announcing the theft.
The statement continued to describe the robbery as “a shock, bewildering, and a real blow to the whole staff,” noting, “We are trying our best to replenish our supplies to satisfy our clients for the festive period.”
Impact of the Robbery
Images taken following the burglary reveal racks and freezers almost cleared out of escargot items.
“An entire section of prepared goods was taken from the store, and unprocessed inventory from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the festive season without any worries.”
This producer has in the past provided restaurants including Michelin-starred venues in Reims, as well as delicatessens and individual customers.
Currently, the business is working hard to recovering and making sure that end-of-year orders can still be met in spite of the significant setback.
