The export of snails (snails, except liparis) rocketed by 241.90%.
In the first year, in 2022, 44.30 tons of snails worth $263,520 were exported from Georgia.
In January-December 2023, Georgia exported 151.46 tons of snails in the amount $1,299,730 that is 3.42 times more than in the same period of last year.
Georgian snails are currently sold only to Italy and France.
2022
Italy- $28,670 (4.86t)
France- $234,850 (39.44t)
2023
Italy-$ 7,090 (1.22t)
France-$ 1 292 640 (150.24t)
"Commersant" got interested in the current situation in the snail market and got in touch with snail farmers, including Merab Nadaraya, the founder of "Snail Catch".
"Snail Catch" company was founded in 2021. It has a factory and a farm on the area of 15 hectares located in the village of Menj in Samegrelo. The company has 50 employees. The initial investment cost was 1.5 million euros.
In the words of the founder of Nadi Group and Snail Catch, the demand for snails isgrowing and the export is expanding.
"Demand and interest in snails is increasing every day, the export market is expanding.
The prospect of snail business in Georgia is great given that the EU market is not fully satisfied with the product.
„We are carrying exports to France, Italy and Spain. Demand for the product
in Georgia increased as well. We deliver semi-finished products to restaurants. The benefits of snail meat are becoming known and more annd more people are interested in it," he said.
The selling price of one kilogram of snails in Georgia is 3 euros, the export price ranges from 4-4.5 euros.
Snail Catch founder says they plan to search a new export market and expand the company this year.
At this stage, our farm uses 15 hectares for snail farming. In the summer, we are set to expand to 30 ha," the founder of Nadi Group and Snail Catch points out.