L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, France’s most renowned snail farm, located in Bouzy, close to Reims, suffered a terrible catastrophe. Thieves stole all its fresh and frozen stock of snails. The Sunday night into early Monday morning heist has left the business in a critical situation. As the holiday shopping season is about to kick off, the impact could be severe.
The farm sells to gourmet restaurants, like nearby Michelin-starred Les Crayères in Reims and serves delicatessens and private clientele. The high-profile theft of the snails, which were worth around €90,000 (£79,000, $104,000), represented a major hit to the business’s profitability. Producers within France, like L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, usually experience a little boom of sales every December. Almost never do those incidents have any consequences for them.
Moving like a commando squad, the thieves were said to have brought down a border fence before smashing into the farm’s structures. The robbery was reported earlier in the week. Two weeks later, L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, a restaurant, lodged a formal complaint with the local police. In a statement, management for the farm said they were horrified and confused by the incident.
“This is definitely not the kind of post we thought we’d write as the holidays approach,” – L’Escargot Des Grands Crus
In a statement released on Thursday, L’Escargot Des Grands Crus described the theft as “a shock, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the entire team.” The farm had meticulously prepared its stock for the holiday season and had just enough snails to meet its clients’ demands.
“It was my end-of-year stock… We had just the right amount to get through the holidays without any worries,” – L’Escargot Des Grands Crus
As the crew looks to bounce back from this loss, they are busy making sure they can restock and fill their supply closets. The need to resupply is now critical. Clients excitedly await the prized delicacy, often sautéed in garlic butter or wine before being removed from its shell, ready for a sumptuous meal.
“We are trying our best to replenish our stocks to satisfy you for the holidays,” – L’Escargot Des Grands Crus
The theft of L’Escargot Des Grands Crus exemplifies a more worrisome direction that producers have been facing as they enter their busiest sales months. As they navigate through this challenging situation, the farm remains committed to restoring its operations in hopes of meeting client expectations during the festive season.