A Snail Farm Reports Theft of €90,000 Value of Snails

Thieves made off with snails valued at €90,000 from a farm in the north of France that supplies high-end eateries.

L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in Bouzy, near Reims, reported that its complete stock of both fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just ahead of the festive period.

The intruders broke into the property during the night leading to Monday, cutting a border fence before accessing storage facilities.

Police were notified days after the incident, and officers are now on the trail.

Meanwhile, the business is striving to replenish its supplies to satisfy holiday orders from clients.

Snails: A French Delicacy

Edible snails are considered a culinary specialty in France, usually cooked in garlic butter or white wine before being extracted from their shell.

Producers in France often see a surge in demand around the month of December, as consumers treat themselves with the dish for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.

“This is certainly not the kind of announcement we expected we’d share as the holidays near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a statement regarding the theft.

The statement went on to describe the event as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire team,” adding, “We are trying our best to restock our inventory to meet the needs of our clients for the festive period.”

Impact of the Theft

Photos taken after the theft reveal shelves and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of snail products.

“An entire section of finished products was stolen from the warehouse, and raw material stock from my production area,” Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne commented.

“It was my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to manage the holidays without any concerns.”

This producer has in the past provided restaurants such as Michelin-starred venues in Reims, as well as specialty food shops and private clients.

Currently, the farm is focused on bouncing back and making sure that holiday orders can still be met in spite of the major setback.