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Thieves made off with escargot worth €90,000 from a farm in the north of France that provides for gourmet restaurants.

L'Escargot Des Grands Crus in the Bouzy area, close to the city of Reims, stated that its entire inventory of both fresh and frozen snails was taken—a “major setback” just before the festive period.

The intruders broke into the property overnight into Monday, cutting a perimeter fence before accessing storage facilities.

Police were notified days after the incident, and investigators are currently pursuing leads.

In the meantime, the business is striving to restock to satisfy holiday demand from clients.

Escargot: A French Gourmet Treat

Escargot are regarded as a French delicacy, typically prepared in garlic butter or wine before being extracted from their shells.

Producers in France typically experience a increase in demand around December, as consumers treat themselves with the dish for Christmas and New Year’s festivities.

“This is definitely not the type of post we expected we’d write as the holidays near,” the farm stated in a statement announcing the theft.

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

Impact of the Theft

Photos captured after the burglary show racks and freezers almost completely emptied of snail products.

“An entire section of prepared goods was taken from the warehouse, and raw material 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 previously supplied establishments including Michelin-starred venues in Reims, as well as delicatessens and individual customers.

Currently, the business is working hard to recovering and ensuring that end-of-year demand can still be fulfilled in spite of the major loss.