Flammarion to distribute for ex-Hachette Livre chief Arnaud Nourry's Les Nouveaux Éditeurs

Les Nouveaux Éditeurs has announced that Flammarion, sister company of Gallimard, will market and distribute for all members of the "freestanding" group of publishing houses launched by ex-Hachette Livre chief Arnaud Nourry at the end of May.

The exclusive agreement is with Flammarion Diffusion et Union Distribution, a subsidiary of Flammarion, itself a subsidiary of Madrigall, as is Gallimard, which said last week it was taking over publisher Christian Bourgois.

The plan is to sign up four new publishers within the next year.

“One should be finalised in the next couple of weeks,” Ronald Blunden, a partner in the company and head of communications, told The Bookseller. “A second one should be brought in before Christmas, and two more should follow early next year.”

Nourry said: "The Flammarion distributor is known to booksellers for the quality of its services, which correspond perfectly to our specifications – strength, technological expertise, market coverage and human scale.”

Madrigall chair and c.e.o. Antoine Gallimard said he was “very happy” to “accompany Arnaud Nourry in his ambitious project. His experience and knowledge of publishing should enable him and his partners to give a new impetus to the book market”.  

According to a company statement issued in June, Les Nouveaux Éditeurs’ mission is to offer "all publishing talents […] an opportunity to develop their editorial project free of interference of any kind and in full support of their authors’ work, in an entrepreneurial culture".

The group will grant members a "substantial minority stake" in their publishing house and will aim to offer “best in class” contracts in terms of time span, transparency, payment schedules and quality of service.