More than $100,000 worth of escargot was stolen from a French snail farm supplying Michelin-starred restaurants, leaving the producer scrambling to rebuild stock during one of the busiest periods of the year.
L’Escargot Des Grands Crus, based in Bouzy in northeastern France, said on Facebook that thieves broke into its facility overnight between Sunday and Monday, taking nearly all of its fresh and frozen snails.
The family-run farm breeds around 350,000 snails annually and earns roughly 60% of its yearly revenue during the Christmas and New Year season.
The Times reports that the thieves cut through a fence, forced their way into storage buildings, and emptied refrigerators holding about 450 kilograms of snail meat. Owner Jean-Mathieu Dauvergne stated that the thieves encountered shelves “full of snails: in jars, fresh, frozen,” and that some of the product taken wasn’t even ready for consumption yet.
The farm described the burglary as “a shock” and “a very tough blow” on Facebook, noting that the entire annual production appeared to be gone. Images shared with French outlets showed storage rooms left nearly empty after the theft.
Snails destined for Michelin restaurants vanished
The farm had been preparing to deliver escargot to regional restaurants for the holiday season, including several Michelin-starred establishments. Dauvergne claimed that the high-profile reputation of his operation likely made it a target.
Commander Remi Dubois, a police officer in Epernay stated that the thieves appeared “experienced” and “professional,” adding that Dauvergne’s escargot was “worth almost as much as champagne.”
With Christmas approaching, other snail farmers have stepped in to help. Producers in neighboring regions are selling some of their stock at reduced prices to help Dauvergne meet his holiday commitments.
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However, not all restaurant partners are willing to switch suppliers, with one chef telling TF1 he would rather remove escargot from the menu than use snails from elsewhere.
L’Escargot Des Grands Crus said it is working to rebuild stock as quickly as possible while police continue investigating the break-in.