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Thieves have stolen escargot worth ninety thousand euros from a farm in the north of France that provides for high-end eateries.

The snail farm in Bouzy, close to the city of Reims, reported that its entire stock of fresh and frozen snails was stolen—a “major setback” just ahead of the holiday season.

The intruders broke into the farm overnight into Monday, cutting a border fence before accessing farm buildings.

Law enforcement received a complaint days after the incident, and officers are now on the trail.

In the meantime, the farm is working to replenish its supplies to satisfy end-of-year orders from customers.

Escargot: A Traditional French Delicacy

Edible snails 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 sales around December, as people indulge with the specialty for Christmas and New Year's Day festivities.

“This is certainly not the kind of post we thought we’d share as the festive season near,” L'Escargot Des Grands Crus stated in a statement announcing the theft.

They continued to characterize the event as “surprising, bewildering, and a real blow to the entire team,” noting, “We are doing everything possible to restock our supplies to satisfy our clients for the holidays.”

Consequences of the Theft

Photos taken after the theft show shelves and refrigerators nearly completely emptied of snail products.

“An entire section of prepared goods was stolen from the store, and unprocessed stock from my production area,” the farm manager commented.

“It was my end-of-year stock… We had just the right amount to get through the festive season without any worries.”

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

At present, the farm is focused on bouncing back and making sure that holiday orders can still be fulfilled despite the major setback.