🔗 Share this article

Thieves made off with escargot worth €90,000 from a producer in the north of France that provides for high-end restaurants.

L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, stated that its complete inventory of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “real blow” just ahead of the festive period.

The intruders gained entry to the farm overnight into Monday, cutting a border fence before accessing storage facilities.

Police received a complaint later in the week, and officers are currently pursuing leads.

In the meantime, the farm is working to restock to meet holiday demand from clients.

Snails: A Traditional French Delicacy

Escargot are considered a French delicacy, usually cooked in butter with garlic or wine before being extracted from their shell.

Producers in France often see a increase in demand during December, as people indulge with the specialty for Christmas and New Year's Day festivities.

“This is definitely not the type of announcement we thought we’d share as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a message announcing the theft.

They continued to characterize the event as “a shock, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the entire staff,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our supplies to meet the needs of our clients for the holidays.”

Consequences of the Robbery

Photos captured following the burglary show shelves and refrigerators almost completely emptied of escargot items.

“A whole section of prepared goods was taken from the store, and unprocessed inventory from my laboratory,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.

“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to manage the festive season without any worries.”

This producer has in the past provided establishments such as award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.

At present, the farm is focused on bouncing back and ensuring that holiday orders can still be met despite the major loss.