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Thieves made off with snails worth ninety thousand euros from a producer in the north of France that provides for high-end restaurants.

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

The thieves gained entry to the property overnight into Monday, slicing through a perimeter fence before accessing storage facilities.

Police received a complaint later in the week, and officers are now on the trail.

Meanwhile, the business is working to replenish its supplies to satisfy end-of-year demand from customers.

Snails: A French Delicacy

Escargot are regarded as a culinary specialty in France, usually cooked in garlic butter or white wine before being extracted from their shells.

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

“This is certainly not the type of post we expected we’d share as the holidays approach,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus wrote in a message regarding the theft.

The statement continued to characterize the robbery as “a shock, an incomprehension, and a real blow to the whole team,” adding, “We are trying our best to restock our supplies to meet the needs of our clients for the festive period.”

Consequences of the Robbery

Photos captured following the theft show racks and refrigerators nearly cleared out of snail products.

“A whole section of prepared goods was taken from the store, and unprocessed inventory from my production area,” the farm manager explained.

“This represented my holiday season inventory… We had just the right amount to get through the holidays without any concerns.”

This producer has in the past provided restaurants such as Michelin-starred venues in the region, as well as delicatessens and private clients.

Currently, the farm is focused on recovering and ensuring that holiday orders can still be met in spite of the significant loss.