A Farm Announces Robbery of €90,000 Worth of Snails
Thieves have stolen snails worth ninety thousand euros from a farm in the north of France that provides for gourmet eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, stated that its complete inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just before the festive period.
The thieves broke into the farm overnight into Monday, slicing through a border fence before accessing storage facilities.
Law enforcement received a complaint later in the week, and officers are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the business is working to restock to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.
Escargot: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, usually cooked in garlic butter or wine before being removed from their shell.
Farmers in France typically experience a increase in sales during December, as people treat themselves with the dish for Christmas and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is certainly not the type of post we thought we’d write as the festive season approach,” the farm wrote in a message announcing the incident.
They went on to describe the event as “a shock, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire team,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our supplies to satisfy our clients for the holidays.”
Consequences of the Theft
Photos taken following the theft reveal racks and freezers nearly cleared out of snail products.
“A whole section of finished products was taken from the store, and raw material stock from my production area,” the farm manager explained.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any worries.”
The farm has previously supplied restaurants such as award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as delicatessens and individual customers.
At present, the farm is working hard to bouncing back and making sure that holiday demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the significant setback.
