30 | Magazine World | April 2007 www.fipp.com
Member Profile
Edipresse
ON A SWISS ROLL
Based in Switzerland, Edipresse Group has a foothold in 15
countries around the world, with more than 150 different
publications in circulation. The secret to its success? Four
national languages and a sensitivity to other cultures
Edipresse itself came into operation, as its
various publishing activities were grouped
under the same name.
Soon after, it began a rapid expansion
into Europe, opening offices in Spain and
Portugal, before entering the Polish, Russian,
Ukrainian and Romanian markets a few years
later. Today, it publishes more than 150 titles
in 15 countries, employing more than 3,800
people. “One of our strengths as a company
is that we have always been an early bird,”
says Lamunière. “Because we have a quick
T
o be a successful international decision-making process and can react very
publisher, it pays to have a true quickly to market opportunities, we have the
multicultural outlook and the ability first-mover advantage. We invested in Spain
to speak a range of languages. It also and Portugal 15 years ago, a time when those
helps if you’re located right in the heart of countries weren’t as rich as they are now, and
Europe, with a number of key markets right on that investment has paid off well.” Publishing
your doorstep. With its international outlook in a range of countries presents a unique set of
and keen sense of responsibility and respect, challenges, with each market having different
Switzerland is almost the perfect country in expectations, cultures and incomes. Even
which to be a publisher. And no one knows that countries where you might expect a common
better than Edipresse Group. culture, such as Russia and the Ukraine, have
“As a company, we come from a country that very distinct differences.
is extremely multicultural,” explains chairman “Each time we launch an existing title in
Pierre Lamunière. “We speak many languages, a new country, we have to start from scratch,”
we don’t have a dominant religion and we explains Lamunière. “Even if some of the
“Each market has its own
personality… we’re not selling
McDonald's burgers or iPods”
don’t have a strong culture, such as the French regions share common values or tastes, each
or Spanish. It’s because of this that we’re very market has its own personality and we have
good at adapting to the different demands and to take this into account. A good example is
sensitivities of each country we operate in.” one of our transnational titles, VIVA, a leading
Edipresse has a long and illustrious history. biweekly celebrity title in Romania, Poland and
It began operations in 1762 as the publisher, Ukraine – each edition has its own individual
of Société de la Feuille d’Avis de Lausanne, a daily character. That’s what makes our job interesting.
newspaper that still exists today under the We’re not selling McDonald's burgers or iPods.”
name 24 Hours. But it wasn’t until 1988 that The magazine has been so successful that
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