New changes in the distribution of books in Catalonia. Starting this February, the Grup 62 labels (Edicions 62, Columna, Empúries, Proa, Destino or Pòrtic, among others) will stop distributing their books with Àgora and will go to Logista Libros, 50% owned by Grupo Planeta ( parent group of 62) and which is the largest distributor in Spain, based in Guadalajara. Despite causing some surprise, a good part of the sector took it for granted that this would happen at one time or another.
The failed start-up of Entredos – the distribution logistics platform that Àgora shares with Punxes – caused numerous dysfunctions in the book sector when it began operating in August 2022, which caused a group of publishers linked to Xarxa de Llibres to leave and present themselves. a million-dollar lawsuit that also affected the Enciclopèdia Group – to which Àgora belongs –, which for months has left numerous collaborators without collecting their invoices and is pending an employment regulation file, whose report was presented yesterday and now begins a month negotiations with the works council.
The general director of Encyclopedia, Joan Abellà, confirmed the information that had been sent to booksellers to be able to make new orders and returns from now on. “We make ourselves small and we endure,” he noted.
The president of the Gremi de Llibreters de Catalunya, Eric del Arco, valued the tranquility with which the change has been received, “without fuss”, since it guarantees the functioning of the system.
Sector sources familiar with these movements wanted to highlight the three-party agreement – Grup 62, Àgora and Logista – to make an orderly change, minimize damage and not worsen the situation of Enciclopèdia, taking into account that it could be part of the solution, a one more step to try to get out of the dead end where Enciclopèdia is located.
Catalan version, here
