French Snail Farm Announces Robbery of €90,000 Worth of Snails

Burglars made off with snails worth ninety thousand euros from a farm in northern France that supplies high-end restaurants.

The snail farm in the Bouzy area, close to Reims, reported that its complete stock of fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just before the holiday season.

The thieves gained entry to the property overnight into Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before accessing farm buildings.

Police were notified later in the week, and officers are currently pursuing leads.

Meanwhile, the business is striving to restock to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.

Snails: A Traditional French Gourmet Treat

Edible snails are considered a French delicacy, usually prepared in butter with garlic or white wine before being removed from their shells.

Farmers in France often see a increase in demand during the month of December, as people treat themselves with the specialty for Christmas Eve and New Year's Day celebrations.

“This is certainly not the type of announcement we expected we’d write as the holidays near,” the farm stated in a message announcing the incident.

They went on to describe the event as “surprising, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the whole staff,” adding, “We are doing everything possible to replenish our supplies to meet the needs of our customers for the festive period.”

Impact of the Robbery

Images captured after the theft show shelves and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of escargot items.

“An entire section of prepared goods was stolen from the warehouse, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” the farm manager explained.

“It was my holiday season inventory… We had precisely enough to get through the holidays without any concerns.”

This producer has in the past provided establishments such as Michelin-starred restaurants in the region, as well as delicatessens and individual customers.

Currently, the business is focused on bouncing back and making sure that holiday orders can still be met despite the significant loss.