Grup 62 - Autor: Revista Editorial

Grup 62 is a landmark in the world of Catalan publishing. The publishing house had its origin in Edicions 62, founded in 1962 with the intention of creating a modern, general and universal catalogue in the Catalan language comparable with the catalogues of the best European publishers. In 2012 Edicions 62 celebrates its 50th anniversary.

In 1964, a Spanish imprint was created, Ediciones Península, specialized in non-fiction. The company has been growing ever since, and in recent years has taken over publishers and created new imprints, creating Grup 62 as we know it at present.

Editorial Empúries (fiction and not fiction in Catalana language) became part of Grup 62 in 1996; El Aleph Editores (the former Muchnik, fiction in Spanish) was taken over in 1998, as well as Editorial Selecta and its catalogue; Luciérnaga (self-help and new age) joined the group in 2002; in 2003 Salsa Books was created as an imprint dedicated to cookery titles.

With the incorporation, at the end of 2006, of the groups Planeta and Enciclopèdia Catalana among the shareholders, Grup 62 has increased its size with the inclusion of a number of important publishing imprints, each one with its own, long story to tell within the history of publishing. Now, Proa and Pòrtic (from Enciclopèdia), and Columnaand the Catalan catalogues of Destino, Planeta and Timun Mas (from Planeta) also form part of Grup 62.

As a result of this fusion and some months later, labutxaca was created as the pocket imprint which includes the best titles of all publishing imprints of Grup 62 at competitive prices and with an excellent presentation. Lately, in 2011, Eumo Editorial joined de group, an imprint for knowledge, culture and research, rooted in the territory.

The new Grup 62, with a total of 18 publishing imprints, covers the full range of literary genres and all types of publishing. It publishes Catalan and Spanish authors and translations of the works of foreign writers. It has a specific division for children’s, young adult and educational books. It also works in the area of large-format, illustrated reference works, in credit sale in the art market (Art 62) and has launched the section New Businesses. Moreover, Grup 62 has a strong presence in book distribution through Enlace, a distributor originally founded in 1970.

The core idea of the entire Grup 62 project lies in maintaining the individual identity of each one of its imprints, the strength to properly commercialize every title published during the year and the commitment to keep and get on to bookshelves works from the back catalogues through transversal business lines such as the new labutxaca imprint.

The desire for cohesion in diversity and the cultural commitment of Grup 62 goes far beyond purely business interests. Through the accumulated history of the different imprints and the combined scale they have, Grup 62 wants to play a decisive role in the strengthening of Catalan culture. To this end, it works to spread the word about the great writers in our language and opts for books that, whatever the genre, the period, or the language in which they are written can contribute to the growth in the number of readers in Catalan. Side by side with this, through editions in Spanish, Grup 62 also wants to be recognised as a prestigious brand throughout Hispanic culture.

© Begoña Berruezo

The new Grup 62, with a total of 18 publishing imprints, covers the full range of literary genres and all types of publishing. It publishes Catalan and Spanish authors and translations of the works of foreign writers. It has a specific division for children’s, juvenile and school books. It also works in the area of large-format, illustrated reference works, in credit sale in the art market (Art 62) and has launched the section New Businesses. What is more, Grup 62 has a strong presence in book distribution through Enlace, a distributor originally founded in 1970.

The core idea of the entire Grup 62 project lies in maintaining the individual identity of each one of its imprints, the strength to properly market each and everyone of the titles published during the year and the commitment to keep and get on to bookshelves works from the back catalogues through transversal business lines such as the new labutxaca imprint.

The desire for cohesion in diversity and the cultural commitment of Grup 62 goes far beyond purely business interests. Through the accumulated history of the different imprints and the combined scale they have, Grup 62 wants to play a decisive role in the strengthening of Catalan culture. To this end, it works to spread the word about the great writers in our language and opts for books that, whatever the genre, the period, or the language in which they are written can contribute to the growth in the number of readers in Catalan. Side by side with this, through editions in Spanish, Grup 62 also wants to be recognised as a prestigious brand throughout Hispanic culture.