€90,000 Worth of Snails Stolen From French Farm Ahead of Holiday Rush
Bouzy, France – A farm in northern France specializing in gourmet snails reported the theft of its entire stock, valued at €90,000 (£79,000; $104,000), in a break-in discovered Monday and reported to police later in the week. L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, near Reims, supplies high-end restaurants, delicatessens, and private clients with the French delicacy.
The thieves breached a border fence and broke into farm buildings, making off with both fresh and frozen snails – a critical loss as demand surges during the Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations. Escargots, traditionally served cooked in garlic butter or wine, are a popular festive dish in France.
“This is definitely not the kind of post we thought we’d write as the holidays approach,” the farm stated on Thursday. “This is a shock, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the entire team.”
Farm manager Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne told Franceinfo, “A whole section of finished products was stolen from the store, and raw material stock from my laboratory. It was my end-of-year stock… We had just the right amount to get through the holidays without any worries.”
Police are investigating. L’Escargot Des Grands Crus is working to replenish its inventory to meet customer demand, and has counted Michelin-starred Les crayères in Reims among its regular clients. Photos from the farm show nearly empty shelves and refrigerators.
