On the Ganges at Varanasi, July 7. Image – Getty: Eder Paisan
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Hachette India
Not to be confused with “the other IPG,” the American IPG today (August 27) has announced the additions of two high-profile international publishing entities to its sales and distribution programs into North American markets—one company in Europe and the other in India.
To disambiguate the IPGs for you first, the United States’ company is the Independent Publishers Group. The United Kingdom’s company is the Independent Publishers Guild.
It’s the US-based “group,” not “guild” that we’re talking about today in this article, and it involves two key companies in international distribution and sales.
Hachette India, in operation since May 2008, produces both fiction and nonfiction, and the Independent Publishers Group begins its contract with Hachette India on Monday (September 1).
Thomas Abraham
In a statement provided to the news media, Hachette India managing director Thomas Abraham—whose retirement plans we reported in June— is quoted, saying, “In a connected and flat world, it’s taken too long and should have happened earlier.
“It’s wonderful that IPG’s distribution is now enabling a two-way street,” he says, “and our books will get new audiences, and North American readers will now have access to a truly increased diversity of voices and views.
“On a personal note, as I retire, I’m pleased that one of my final initiatives I could deliver was this partnership where Hachette India books get beyond the confines of a local market.”
As we reported, Abraham is to be succeeded in January as managing director of Hachette India by vice-president for product and marketing Riti Jagoorie.
Giunti Editori
The other international company signing on with IPG for North American sales and distribution is among the most familiar of the Italian companies to Publishing Perspectives: Giunti Editore of Firenze is a frequent contributor to our Rights Roundups, and has a strong footing in the Italian market, often in third position after Gruppo Editoriale Mauri Spagnol (GeMS) and Mondadori.
Giunti Editore has a catalogue of more than 14,500 active Italian-language titles, covering many segments of the book industry.
IPG on August 1 began distributing Giunti’s inaugural English-language list to North America.
That list features approximately 35 titles selected from their children’s books, art books, and classics.
At Frankfurt:
- Hachette Livre, the parent company of Hachette India, will be found in Hall 6.0, Stand E100.
- Giunti Editore is to be in Hall 5.0, Stand B76.
- The US-based Independent Publishers Group, IPG, is to be in Hall 6.0, Stand E130.
- And the UK-based Independent Publishers Guild, IPG, is to be in Hall 6.0,Stand.
More from Publishing Perspectives on book distribution is here, more on the Indian market is here, more on the Italian market is here, and more on international publishing is here.
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