A Snail Farm Reports Theft of €90K Value of Snails
Burglars have stolen escargot worth ninety thousand euros from a farm in northern France that supplies gourmet restaurants.
The snail farm in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, stated that its entire inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “real blow” just before the holiday season.
The intruders gained entry to the property during the night leading to Monday, slicing through a border fence before accessing farm buildings.
Police received a complaint later in the week, and investigators are currently pursuing leads.
Meanwhile, the business is working to restock to meet holiday orders from customers.
Snails: A French Delicacy
Edible snails are considered a culinary specialty in France, typically prepared in garlic butter or wine before being removed from their shell.
Producers in France typically experience a increase in demand during the month of December, as consumers treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is certainly not the kind of post we expected we’d write as the festive season near,” the farm stated in a message announcing the incident.
The statement continued to describe the robbery as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a serious setback to the whole staff,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to satisfy our clients for the festive period.”
Impact of the Robbery
Photos taken following the burglary show shelves and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of snail products.
“A whole section of finished products was stolen from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” the farm manager explained.
“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the holidays without any concerns.”
The farm has previously supplied establishments including award-winning venues in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
Currently, the business is working hard to recovering and making sure that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled despite the major loss.
