Overview
- Thieves stole about 450 kg of fresh and frozen snails from L’Escargot des Grands Crus in Bouzy between Sunday night and Monday morning, a loss estimated at €90,000.
- Épernay police called the perpetrators experienced, with the break-in involving cut fencing, forced doors and smashed motion sensors to access cold storage.
- The missing mollusks were earmarked for Christmas deliveries to top restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Domaine les Crayères in Reims, and represented roughly 10,000 servings.
- Owner Jean‑Mathieu Dauvergne has begun buying stock from other farmers, some at discounted prices, and has already resupplied certain restaurant clients.
- Recovery is constrained because part of the haul was not yet prepared for immediate consumption, and with about 60% of annual revenue tied to the holidays some chefs may pull the dish rather than accept substitutes.