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HCUK "grows market share"

10.05.07 Philip Jones

HarperCollins UK grew its market share in the first quarter of 2007, thanks to "strong showing in the bestseller lists", with seven number one hits.

According to results released by parent company News Corp for its third quarter ending 31st March, HarperCollins Worlwide reported operating income of $29m, a 12% increase over the $26m from the third quarter 2006. Revenue was up to $291m, from $275m in the third quarter a year ago.

The group does not release figures for its UK arm, but chief executive Victoria Barnsley told The Bookseller: "The first three months following Christmas are traditionally a tough time in the book trade, but HCUK managed to buck the trend and grow market share, with a 2.3% increase in overall sales value, compared to an average market growth of 1.7%. This was largely thanks to a strong showing in the bestseller lists, with 23 books in total, seven of which were number ones, and drove improved profit over F06."

Barnsley said it was a particularly strong third quarter for non-fiction with the number one Welcome To My World by Coleen McLoughlin. "This is an area we continue to dominate." In January the company achieved a UK book market first, as Conn Iggulden had two number ones – heading up both the non fiction hardback chart with his brother Hal with The Dangerous Book For Boys and the fiction hardback chart with Wolf of the Plains.

In the US Jane Friedman, president and c.e.o., said: "I am very happy with the numbers for this quarter". HarperCollins US had 48 books on the New York Times bestseller list, including seven books that landed at number one.

Financial HarperCollins Philip Jones Victoria Barnsley

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