SNAIL FARMING BUSINESS PLAN

I. Executive Summary

Company Description

Coastal Helix Farm — named for the coastal climate and the helix shape of the Helix aspersa maxima shell — is a Sonoma County, California heliciculture company launching production in 2026. We operate in specialty agriculture and gourmet food supply, producing fresh, high-quality escargot as a domestic alternative to imported canned goods. Our core products are chilled whole escargot and chef-ready packs; our competitive edge is controlled-environment cultivation that delivers consistent size, texture, and year-round availability. One-line: We deliver fresh, restaurant-grade escargot from farm to chef, every week of the year.

We run a closed-lifecycle operation: breeding, nurseries, grow-out chambers with advanced climate control, on-site processing, and cold-chain distribution to chefs and specialty distributors. We target high-end restaurants, boutique food distributors, and affluent retail buyers in the U.S. Short-term goals: achieve commercial yields and secure five regional chef contracts by Q4 2026. Long-term goals: scale to serve national specialty distributors, reach 2,000 kg annual production by 2029, and prove a replicable sustainable model for American heliciculture. One-line: Our measurable goal is to replace import volume with a consistent, traceable U.S. supply.

Problem

American executive chefs lack reliable access to fresh escargot, forcing widespread reliance on canned or frozen imports that compromise texture, flavor, and consistency.

There is an absence of large-scale domestic heliciculture capable of meeting Michelin-level quality and supply needs.

This gap causes inconsistent menu availability, limited culinary creativity for signature dishes, reduced supply-chain transparency, and timing problems that prevent true farm-to-table escargot offerings.

Solution

We operate a state-of-the-art domestic snail farm in Sonoma County producing premium Helix aspersa maxima year-round. Using controlled-environment agriculture, the facility manages the full lifecycle from hatchery to harvest and offers live snails, purged snails, and blanched snails to deliver fresh, traceable, and chef-ready product that replaces low-quality imported escargot and reduces long-distance shipping.

One-liner: Fresh, traceable, chef-ready domestic snails that restore flavor, consistency, and sustainability to American kitchens.

Mission Statement

We produce the highest-quality, freshest escargot in the United States through scalable, domestic heliciculture that prioritizes animal welfare and environmental stewardship. We empower chefs and culinary professionals with reliable, transparent supply chains, continuous genetic and cultivation improvements, and strict quality controls. Our goal is to set the American standard for fresh escargot by combining sustainability, traceability, and culinary excellence.

Key Success Factors

Reproducible production, elite genetics, experienced team, diversified revenue, and strong market channels.

• Ensure consistent year-round harvests via climate-controlled production facility
• Leverage high-quality breeding stock and skilled management
• Maintain 6.0% mortality target and optimized harvest weights
• Capture revenue with dual-stream model: mature and domestic markets
• Secure market access via partnerships with culinary institutions and distributors

Financial Summary

The company is positioned for long-term growth with clear break-even and payback milestones.

Financial requirements: minimum cash $465,000 (Jan‑2028 minimum); returns: breakeven Feb‑2028, payback 61 months, IRR 3%, ROE 16.3%.

Outlook: losses early, positive EBITDA by 2028 and growing to $3.804M by Year 10.

Funding Requirements

We seek $1,095,000 to fund capital buildout and a minimum cash cushion to reach break-even in February 2028 and scale to projected Year‑10 EBITDA of $3,804,000.