French Farm Reports Theft of €90,000 Value of Snails
Thieves made off with escargot valued at ninety thousand euros from a producer in the north of France that provides for high-end eateries.
The snail farm in Bouzy, close to the city of Reims, reported that its entire inventory of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “real blow” just before the holiday season.
The thieves broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before entering storage facilities.
Law enforcement were notified days after the incident, and officers are now on the trail.
In the meantime, the farm is striving to replenish its supplies to satisfy holiday demand from customers.
Snails: A French Delicacy
Edible snails are considered a culinary specialty in France, usually cooked in butter with garlic or wine before being removed from their shells.
Farmers in France typically experience a surge in sales around the month of December, as people treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas and New Year's Day celebrations.
“This is certainly not the type of post we expected we’d share as the holidays near,” the farm stated in a message announcing the theft.
The statement continued to describe the event as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire staff,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our supplies to meet the needs of our clients for the festive period.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images taken after the theft show racks and refrigerators nearly cleared out of snail products.
“A whole section of prepared goods was taken from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my laboratory,” the farm manager commented.
“It was my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to get through the holidays without any concerns.”
The farm has previously supplied restaurants such as award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
Currently, the business is working hard to bouncing back and ensuring that holiday orders can still be fulfilled in spite of the major setback.
