EN
Acquisitions
July 21, 2025

Hachette Livre announces the acquisition of Livres et Communication (LEC), which manages the Ducasse Edition brand

Hachette Livre announces the acquisition of Livres et Communication (LEC), a publisher specialized in illustrated practical books, which oversees the prestigious Ducasse Edition imprint, a leading name in the illustrated cookbook market.

Ducasse Edition, which publishes 15 to 20 new releases each year and has a catalogue of about a hundred titles, will expand the Hachette Illustré division’s selection of illustrated cookbooks.

This new imprint, led by Aurore Charoy, will become part of the Hachette Illustré division, overseen by Catherine Saunier-Talec. Hachette Livre will begin marketing and distributing the catalogue on January 1, 2026.

Alain Ducasse, Founder and President of Alain Ducasse Group: “For more than 20 years, we have been developing Ducasse Edition based on the philosophy that books are a living extension of our cuisine: a demanding, generous and accessible tool for passing on knowledge. In joining Hachette, a leading publisher in France and further afield, we are lending fresh impetus to this vision, to expand the reach of expertise, chefs, producers and places we find inspiring, with high standards, passion, and a strong desire to share.”

Catherine Saunier-Talec, Head of divisions at Hachette Illustré: "We are very pleased to welcome this iconic name in the illustrated cookbook market, and to have the opportunity to showcase its rich collection of titles. This acquisition dovetails with our ambition to offer a carefully crafted, quality selection of practical books.”

 

 

Hachette Livre is a subsidiary of Lagardère SA and the world’s third-largest mainstream publishing group (trade and educational). With revenue of €2,873 million in 2024, it is the market leader in France, number two in the UK, third in Spain and fourth in the US (in trade publishing). The Group comprises over 200 imprints which together publish around 15,000 new titles each year in a dozen languages (mainly French, English and Spanish). Hachette Livre covers all segments of the mainstream publishing market: general fiction, nonfiction, paperbacks, children’s and YA books, illustrated books, travel guides, textbooks, study guides and partworks.

https://www.hachette.com/

Press contact:

Hachette Livre : Magali Hamonic – mhamonic@hachette-livre.fr – 06 74 08 12 32

PLEAD : Paul Rousselot – paul.rousselot@plead.fr – 06 27 25 75 63