French Farm Announces Robbery of €90,000 Worth of Escargot
Burglars have stolen escargot worth €90,000 from a farm in northern France that supplies high-end restaurants.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in Bouzy, near the city of Reims, reported that its entire stock of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just ahead of the festive period.
The intruders broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before accessing farm buildings.
Law enforcement received a complaint later in the week, and officers are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the farm is working to restock to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.
Escargot: A French Delicacy
Edible snails are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically cooked in butter with garlic or wine before being extracted from their shell.
Producers in France typically experience a increase in demand around the month of December, as consumers treat themselves with the dish for Christmas Eve and New Year’s festivities.
“This is certainly not the kind of announcement we thought we’d share as the holidays approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a statement regarding the theft.
They continued to describe the robbery as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the whole team,” adding, “We are trying our best to restock our inventory to satisfy our clients for the festive period.”
Consequences of the Theft
Photos taken after the theft reveal racks and freezers nearly completely emptied of snail products.
“An entire section of finished products was stolen from the store, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” the farm manager explained.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
This producer has in the past provided restaurants such as award-winning venues in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
Currently, the farm is focused on bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year demand can still be met despite the significant loss.
