PARIS COOKBOOKFAIR 2010 NEWS
If you are in food and wine books, you have to be in Paris
February 12-15, 2010
The Paris Cookbookfair was launched one month ago. It received an excellent reception in the international cookbook market. The general response is that it is an excellent concept, that it fills a need, and that it is wanted NOW.
• Paris is an excellent location for food and wines. It is between the largest markets for cookbooks in northern Europe, and the powerful rights market in London. America, Asia, Africa, and others love to come to Paris. It is also the leading romantic capital in the world.
• There is a very strong interest from the media, including the trade leaders such as Publishers Weekly and Publishing Perspectives in the USA, the British Book Trade Press, the Australian Booksellers and Publishers, Livres Hebdo in France, etc. We are on YouTube and Twitter. The general press inquiries are multitudinous.
• The response from the thousands who have participated in Gourmand World Cookbook Awards over 15 years is beyond all expectations. This is logical when you know that for instance the Awards 2009 have over ten thousand publishers, authors, photographers involved from 132 participating countries. No other sector of book publishing benefits from such awards.We are already beyond our objectives in stands requests, with over 80% coming from past Gourmand Awards contacts.
This brings the following considerations:
1.- The Paris Cookbook Fair will be an international professional fair in Paris, with 60% foreigners and 40% French. We will have French big publishers, and numerous small ones as we are helped by the fact that the Paris Book Fair has nearly doubled its cost of exhibiting in March 2010 for small publishers.
2.- We have to give more space for the numerous publishers stands. The demand is larger than planned. They know the Gourmand Awards and see we treat all publishers the same, big or small. We are focused on being a service to the cookbook sector. We know the publishers and respect cookbooks.
3.- We have more demand for the Rights Center than expected. We plan to increase the volume of cookbook and wine book translations in all countries. For instance in France we want to double it. The crisis puts more pressure on publishers to sell rights. There are more buyers, because it is often the best way to lower costs and risks. Important agents will visit the Rights Center at Paris Cookbook Fair.
4.- We will create an Authors Center, a new concept, where authors can have their own table and present their books. Many authors are now becoming publishers. It will be within the structure of the Rights Center, but it will be reserved for authors.
5.- The Professional Exhibition will welcome cookbooks from publishers and authors who cannot attend the event, in a joint exhibit.
6.- Distributors will be active visitors. Big book retail chains, and many smaller booksellers are expected. Specialized cookbook stores will visit, from Europe, as well as from America or Australia several have already confirmed.
7.- All exhibitors will be connected to books. Food products or wine will be present only as by-products when there is also a book at the center of the stand.
8.- We are now confident this will be an annual event. To thank the exhibitors at the first event, we are creating a Cookbookfair Supporters Club with benefits such as guaranted prices for the next two years, first option on space, invitations to our supporters dinners, and other surprises.
9.- The conference and tasting program will be announced in November. The list of participants will be published in December, including exhibitors, chefs, winemakers, booksellers, authors, publishers.
We are preparing an optional program of parallel activities for food and wine tourists in Paris for February 7-16,2010.
10.- Many televisions are coming. We will have two television studios for filming shows.
11.- There will be important interaction with the next glamorous Gourmand World Cookbook Awards events.
12.- It will be romantic and fun.
Star chef Alain Dutournier told Edouard Cointreau in 2009 that Valentine’s Day is becoming as important as New Year for Paris restaurants. This year, Valentine’s Day on February 14 will be very special for the international food and wine sector in Paris.
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