French Farm Announces Theft of €90,000 Worth of Escargot
Burglars have stolen escargot worth ninety thousand euros from a producer in northern France that supplies gourmet eateries.
L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in Bouzy, close to Reims, reported that its complete stock of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just before the festive period.
The thieves broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, cutting a border fence before entering farm buildings.
Police were notified later in the week, and investigators are now on the trail.
Meanwhile, the business is working to restock to satisfy holiday demand from clients.
Snails: A Traditional French Delicacy
Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, typically cooked in garlic butter or white wine before being removed from their shells.
Producers in France typically experience a increase in demand around December, as people treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year’s celebrations.
“This is certainly not the kind of announcement we expected we’d share as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a statement regarding the theft.
The statement continued to characterize the event as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire staff,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our inventory to satisfy our customers for the festive period.”
Consequences of the Robbery
Images captured following the burglary reveal shelves and refrigerators almost completely emptied of snail products.
“An entire section of prepared goods was stolen from the store, and raw material stock from my production area,” the farm manager explained.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had just the right amount to manage the holidays without any worries.”
This producer has in the past provided restaurants including award-winning restaurants in the region, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.
At present, the business is focused on bouncing back and ensuring that end-of-year orders can still be fulfilled despite the significant loss.
