A Farm Reports Theft of €90K Value of Escargot
Thieves have stolen escargot valued at €90,000 from a farm in northern France that supplies high-end eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, reported that its complete inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just before the festive period.
The thieves gained entry to the property during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a border fence before accessing farm buildings.
Law enforcement received a complaint days after the incident, and investigators are currently pursuing leads.
Meanwhile, the business is working to restock to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.
Escargot: A French Delicacy
Escargot are considered a French delicacy, typically cooked in garlic butter or wine before being removed from their shell.
Producers in France often see a increase in demand during December, as consumers indulge with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year’s festivities.
“This is definitely not the kind of announcement we expected we’d write as the festive season approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a statement regarding the incident.
They continued to characterize the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the whole staff,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to satisfy our customers for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images taken after the burglary show racks and freezers almost completely emptied of snail products.
“A whole section of prepared goods was stolen from the store, and raw material stock from my laboratory,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne explained.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the festive season without any concerns.”
The farm has in the past provided establishments including award-winning venues in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
At present, the farm is working hard to bouncing back and ensuring that holiday orders can still be fulfilled in spite of the major loss.
