Thieves have stolen snails valued at €90,000 (£79,000; $104,000) from L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, a farm in Bouzy, northern France, which supplies gourmet restaurants. The robbery, occurring overnight into Monday, involved cutting through a border fence and breaking into the farm’s buildings. Reports indicate that a complaint was only filed with police later in the week.
The farm is now attempting to restock in order to meet the increased holiday demand for snails, a delicacy in French cuisine typically prepared with garlic butter or wine. Sales in France are known to rise in December as consumers seek out this treat for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, which has served notable customers including the Michelin-starred Les Crayères in Reims, expressed its distress over the incident, emphasizing the challenges posed by losing their entire inventory just before the holiday season. Manager Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne reported that a significant portion of both finished products and raw materials were taken.
Photos following the theft display empty shelves and fridges at the farm, underscoring the impact on their operations. The team is currently working to replenish their supplies in preparation for the festive period, as the demand for their products remains high.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93wnyxjkxko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss