The heart of the cookbook market

Paris will become world´s cook and winebook capital from 12-15 February 2010: In the artist and event center “Le 104” Gourmand will launch the first Paris Cookbook Fair which will be almost more than just a fair for books. It will turn out to be perhaps the most amazing meeting of food and wine professionals (authors, chefs, photographers, publishers, producers) from all around the world. The Book Fair is the basis of the event. Beyond that there will be forums to publishing and culinary issue, a big market of gastronomique products and show cooking. The Paris Cookbook Fair will be opened on February 11 with the „Best of the World“-Gala. In the interview Gourmand President Edouard Cointreau talks about the intention of the fair and the opportunities it opens up for authors, publishers and the public.

 

Gourmand Magazine: There are so many book fairs all around the world: Why do cook and winebooks need an own book fair?
Edouard Cointreau: “My view is that you will see in the future a consolidation of the 4 big international book fairs. My ranking: 1st Frankfurt, 2nd London, 3rd US Bookexpo and 4th Beijing. They are the fairs where top decision makers in publishing companies need to go. Abu Dhabi wants to join them for the Arab market, and Capetown for Africa. My experience of all other fairs is that they are basically national, such as Tokyo, Göteborg, Spanish Liber, etc. Some have become big bookstores for the public, such as Salon du Livre de Paris. Then you have international specialized book fairs focusing on a book sector. The most successful is the Bologna Children Book Fair for children books, in April in Italy. I want to do the same for cookbooks. Cookbooks are now one of the most profitable sector of publishing. And due to my personal family background, I really care about wine books.”

What were the reasons for Gourmand to choose Paris for the Cookbook Fair?
“Paris was chosen for its appeal to foreigners: `We’ll always have Paris´. It is central for communications, there are many hotels, restaurants, excellent wine and food, and the local market for food and wine books is very big. Our objective is to double the foreign trade of France in food and wine books! Paris is also the most romantic capital around the world, so this was perfect to give our guests the opportunity of celebrating Sunday February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day in Paris. All cookbook publishers will need to be in Paris for business. And they will have to take their love there with them. If they do not come, they will have to give a good excuse at the office and at home.”

What does Gourmand expect from the Paris Cookbook Fair?
“Those who have already attended our events know they are different, with glamour, fun, and business mixed together. We expect to do a different book fair, open to all, big and small, as equals, from all countries. We expect to have 70% of professionals present to be foreigners, and to give the opportunity to everyone to see how big the cookbook market really is, although quite different country by country. We expect to be able to show that in spite of the crisis, there is much investment in cookbooks and wine books. Interestingly, small and medium size publishers are taking advantange of the expansion of the cookbook market, and it profits, while big publishers are cutting investment and staff in all sectors everywhere, and missing the opportunity.”

What can visitors expect from the Cookbook Fair?
“The first day on Friday February 12 will be for professionals. February 15 is also reserved for professionals. February 15 is also reserved for professionals, as the Monday is traditionally the professional day for French publishers. Saturday and Sunday will be open to the public, which gives chefs the possibility of attending, as many restaurants close on the week end. We also expect many students who want a career in food, wine or publishing to attend during the week end. There will be two show kitchens, one for international chefs, with 32 demonstrations, and another for French speaking chefs, with another 32 demonstrations. We will announce the list in January. But I can promise now: There will be big stars! We also have conferences, with some 40 different ones scheduled. They will be entertaining, surprising, sometimes thought provoking, even provocative, and at other times mostly fun. There will be a focus on the work of famous illustrators such as Quino (Mafalda) for food books, and a small photos exhibition with very high quality.The visitors will be able to buy French and foreign books from several bookstores. It will be a unique opportunity to buy books very difficult to find even in their own country. There is one of the best bookstores in Paris at le 104, called Le Merle Moqueur, and there will be specialized cookbook stores.
Upon entering visitors will find a typical French market, including an unusual sight in Paris, a Truffles Market with truffle farms from Sorges, Capital of the Truffles of Perigord. Next to the wine books village, we will have built a big wine bar for wine and spirits tastings.”

How is the feedback from the publishers?
“They all want to come. There is a budget squeeze everywhere. If they need to, they will sacrifice some other fair, to come to Paris Cookbook Fair where they expect to have good business in foreign rights, and build relationships. Those who do not take stands take cheaper rights tables. If there is a corporate decision at some very big publishers not to exhibit, the staff will come anyway as visitors, they know they cannot afford to miss it.”

Will it mostly be a professional and serious event or also a big fun and action event?
“We believe good business can be fun, and food books are good business. So fun and business will be very much mixed. For the French, it will be balanced professional and public, trade fair and French Festival. For the foreigners, who will be the majority of the professionals, it will be a trade fair focusing on business.”

How can authors present themselves and their books?
“Authors can take smaller stands as they have fewer books, 4 sqm is the smallest and it is enough. We also have countries collective stands, where the cost is ever smaller, as you can get 2 sqm on a collective stand. Then we have tables at the Authors Center, next to the Rights Center. It is reserved to professionals, for authors who have meetings to sell rights and projects. Entrance is only 8 Euros.”

Will the Paris Cookbook Fair turn out to be an annual event?
“Yes it will be an annual event. We plan to keep le 104 in Paris. We have guaranteed to the exhibitors for the first year that we maintain their prices next year.”

The Awards will take place during the Cookbook Fair next year. Why do you combine these events?
“With the experience of the 15 years of Awards events, we know we will have guests from at least 40 countries. We will give them the additional opportunity of visiting the Paris Cookbook Fair. All their books will be exhibited, as well as most past winners, and it will help foreign rights deals. Having the Awards event also helps the balance between fun and business, big and small, creativity and tradition. The awards event is on Thursday, February 11 at 6 pm, at the big theater, in the 104. It will help draw attention and media presence to Paris Cookbook Fair. Both the fair and the awards will benefit from each other.”

 

Facts about Cookbook Fair

• The “Best in the Worlds”-Gala will take place the day before ther Fair on 11February 2010.

• The Paris Cookbook Fair is located in the artist and event center “Le 104” on more than 4,000 sqm.

• It will be an international bookfair with participants from more than 100 countries. Approximately 40% from France and 60% from foreign countries.

• Claudia Roden is the president of the festival.

• Gourmand shows its huge library with more than 4,000 books.

• There will be 2 show kitchens with 62 chefs demonstrations.

 

To join the Paris Cookbook Fair please fill out the request on
www.cookbookfair.com