Québec Amérique
Québec Amérique is a Montréal-based French-language publisher founded in 1974, producing adult literature, youth titles, and reference works in print, digital, and audio formats, distributed across Quebec, Canada, and international francophone markets under the Groupe Québec Amérique umbrella.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersMontréal, Canada
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Québec Amérique does
Québec Amérique, formally Les Éditions Québec Amérique inc., is a privately held Canadian publishing house founded in 1974 by Jacques Fortin in Montréal. The company operates as the parent of Groupe Québec Amérique (GQA), which includes Les Éditions Québec Amérique, Éditions Cardinal (acquired 2018), and Café Chez l'Éditeur, alongside a jointly-controlled stake in book distributor Diffusion Dimedia (acquired jointly with Éditions du Boréal in 2018). Caroline Fortin, daughter of the founder, has served as President since 2020. The company publishes trade literature, youth titles, and reference works across print, ePub, PDF, and audio formats, with a flagship Le Visuel dictionary series distributed in 38 languages and over 12 million cumulative copies.
The product portfolio spans adult literature collections (Tous Continents, QA Fiction, QA Format de Poche, Littérature d'Amérique), age-segmented youth collections (Bilbo, Titan, Magellan, Petit Poucet), and reference and practical titles such as the Multidictionnaire de la langue française. Digital products include web subscriptions, the interactive Le Visuel + iPad application with multi-language pronunciation, mobile apps, and podcasts (Balados). The publisher monetizes across unit-priced book sales (CAD$9.95-CAD$59.95), monthly digital subscriptions, and an on-site café offering food, beverages, and conference room rental at 7240 rue Saint-Hubert.
Distribution is multi-channel: direct e-commerce on quebec-amerique.com, major Quebec bookstore chains (Renaud-Bray, Archambault, Boyer), school cooperatives, and international partners in France (Librairie du Québec), Switzerland (Servidis/Transat), and New Brunswick (Librairie Pélagie), with Exportlivre handling broader international markets. The customer base comprises individual readers, educators, students, and libraries, with notable author accolades including the Prix SNCF du Polar, Prix littéraire du Gouverneur général, and inclusion in Télérama's top 20 novels of 2023.
Québec Amérique firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Québec Amérique
- Legal name
- Les Éditions Québec Amérique inc.
- Website
- https://quebec-amerique.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Québec Amérique is a Montréal-based French-language publisher founded in 1974, producing adult literature, youth titles, and reference works in print, digital, and audio formats, distributed across Quebec, Canada, and international francophone markets under the Groupe Québec Amérique umbrella.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Québec Amérique industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Reference & Informational Series Publishing (MPAJAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC)
Keywords
Where Québec Amérique is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montréal
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Québec Amérique business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales (Paper): Sale of physical books across multiple genres including adult literature, youth literature, reference materials, and educational content. Books are sold through direct e-commerce, physical bookstores, and international distribution partners.
- Digital Content Sales: Sale of e-books in ePub and PDF formats, audio books, and digital subscriptions including web subscriptions and mobile applications.
- Literary Café Operations: Revenue from Chez l'Éditeur literary café located at 7240 rue Saint-Hubert, Montreal, offering beverages, food, and hosting events and author meet-ups.
- Conference Room Rental: Rental of conference facilities at the literary café for events, workshops, and meetings. Rate of $25/hour plus taxes with minimum one-hour booking.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Paperback books across all collections |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pocket/format de poche editions |
| Subscription | Monthly | Digital subscriptions and applications |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Café food and beverage items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Conference room rental |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels6 records
Québec Amérique product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Québec Amérique is a Montreal-based French-language publishing house that publishes adult literature, youth/children's books, reference works, and dictionaries across paperback, ePub, PDF, and audio formats. It also operates the literary café Chez l'Éditeur in Montreal and distributes titles internationally through bookstore chains and dedicated distributors. The company additionally offers teacher resources, web subscriptions, mobile applications (including Le Visuel +), and podcasts.
Product overview
Québec Amérique is a Canadian publishing house founded in 1974 by Jacques Fortin, now led by his daughter Caroline Fortin since 2020. The company operates a multi-format publishing portfolio consisting of physical books (paperback and hardcover), digital books (ePub and PDF), and audio books. Their adult literature offerings include various collections (Tous Continents, QA Fiction, QA Format de Poche, La Shop, III, Littérature d'Amérique), while their youth division spans age-appropriate collections (Bilbo, Titan, Magellan, Petit Poucet, Mini-Bilbo). They also publish reference and practical works including the acclaimed Le Visuel + dictionary series distributed in 38 languages. Digital services include web subscriptions, mobile applications (including the interactive Le Visuel + for iPad), podcasts (Balados), and websites. The company also operates Chez l'Éditeur, a literary café in Montreal that hosts events and book launches. Teacher resources and educational materials are offered for classroom use.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- QA International: International division of Québec Amérique focused on foreign rights and international publishing operations.
- Studio QA
Products and services
- Québec Amérique Paperback and Hardcover Books Physical paperback and hardcover books covering adult literature, youth literature, and reference works published by Québec Amérique, sold through the company's e-commerce store and bookstore partners.
- Québec Amérique Digital Books (ePub and PDF)
- Québec Amérique Audio Books
- Magazine Québec Amérique
- Adult Literature Collections (Tous Continents, QA Fiction, QA Format de Poche, La Shop, III, Littérature d'Amérique)
- Youth Literature Collections (Bilbo, Titan, Magellan, Petit Poucet, Mini-Bilbo)
- Reference and Practical Books (Multidictionnaire de la langue française, La Nouvelle Grammaire en tableaux)
- Le Visuel Dictionary Series (Visuel Nano, Visuel Intégré, Visuel +)
- Web Subscriptions (Abonnements web)
- Mobile Applications (including Le Visuel + for iPad)
- Chez l'Éditeur Literary Café
- Teacher Resources (Fiches pédagogiques)
- Podcasts (Balados)
Quantifiable outcome
- Le Roitelet ranked among top 20 best novels of 2023 by French magazine Télérama
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Québec Amérique
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Québec Amérique technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Québec Amérique partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Éditions du BoréalcoreQuébec Amérique and Éditions du Boréal jointly acquired Diffusion Dimedia, a major book distribution company, in September 2018. This strategic acquisition strengthened distribution capabilities for both Quebec publishers.
- QA InternationalcorePart of the Québec Amérique group of companies, QA International is a sister company operating under the same corporate group.
- Éditions CardinalcoreÉditions Cardinal is a publishing house under the Québec Amérique group, with offices at a separate location. The Cardinal and Québec Amérique brands share the Chez l'Éditeur literary café.
- Association of Canadian PublishersminorProfessional association membership providing industry networking and advocacy for Canadian publishers. Caroline Fortin received lifetime honorary membership in 2022.
- Renaud-BraycoreMajor Quebec bookstore chain and primary retail distribution partner with locations across Quebec including Montréal, Laval, Gatineau, and regional centers.
- ArchambaultcoreQuebec bookstore chain serving as retail distribution partner for Québec Amérique titles.
- Librairies BoyercoreRegional Quebec bookstore chain operating locations across Montérégie and surrounding areas.
- Librairie du Québec (France)coreFrench distributor representing Quebec publishers in France, enabling international distribution of Québec América titles in the French market.
- Diffusion DimediacoreBook distribution company acquired jointly by Québec América and Éditions du Boréal in 2018, handling distribution for both publishers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Québec Amérique competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Larousse: Iconic French reference/dictionary publisher (Multidictionnaire, Petit Larousse). Closest functional peer for Québec Amérique's Multidictionnaire and Le Visuel dictionary lines; both produce authoritative French-language reference titles for francophone audiences.
- Leméac Éditeur: Historic Montreal-based French-language trade publisher publishing adult fiction, essays, and reference titles. Directly comparable to Québec Amérique in scope (adult trade + reference), Quebec base, and Francophone market focus.
- Éditions du Boréal: Montreal-based French-language literary publisher and likely the closest direct peer. The two companies jointly acquired Diffusion Dimedia in 2018 to share distribution, indicating they operate at the same scale and address the same Quebec author and reader base.
- Les Éditions de l'Homme: Quebec-based French-language publisher of adult non-fiction, essays, biographies, and reference. Now part of Groupe Homme/La Presse; comparable scope to Québec Amérique's adult trade and reference programs in the same Quebec market.
- La Courte Échelle: Long-established Montreal children's book publisher focused on picture books and youth fiction in French. Directly comparable to Québec Amérique's Jeunesse division (Bilbo, Titan, Petit Poucet, Magellan).
Broad incumbents
- Gallimard: France's flagship general and literary publisher under Madrigall/Madrigal. Anchors the French literary canon (Prix Goncourt winners) and reaches the same francophone readership that Québec Amérique targets via its France distribution through Librairie du Québec.
- Flammarion: Major French general trade publisher (literature, reference, illustrated books) under Madrigall. Comparable in adult literary fiction and reference publishing categories to Québec Amérique's adult list.
- Actes Sud: Established French independent publisher with strong literary fiction, children's (collection "Actes Sud Junior"), and reference offerings. Comparable breadth across adult and youth segments to Québec Amérique.
- Hachette Livre: World's largest French-language trade publisher (Lagardère subsidiary), distributing globally. Represent the scale ceiling and competitive benchmark for any French-language literary publisher including Québec Amérique.
Emerging players
- Druide Informatique: Canadian developer of Antidote, the flagship French-language writing-assistance and dictionary software. Lost a copyright/plagiarism judgment to Québec Amérique over the Le Visuel dictionary content, evidencing that both companies compete in the same French-language reference-content space through different mediums (print/visual vs. software).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Québec Amérique social profiles
Digital presenceQuébec Amérique financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Québec Amérique leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Québec Amérique subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Québec Amérique funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Québec Amérique M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Québec Amérique
What does Québec Amérique do?
Québec Amérique is a Montreal-based French-language publishing house that publishes adult literature, youth/children's books, reference works, and dictionaries across paperback, ePub, PDF, and audio formats. It also operates the literary café Chez l'Éditeur in Montreal and distributes titles internationally through bookstore chains and dedicated distributors. The company additionally offers teacher resources, web subscriptions, mobile applications (including Le Visuel +), and podcasts.
Is Québec Amérique a public or private company?
Québec Amérique is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Québec Amérique founded?
Québec Amérique was founded in 1974. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Québec Amérique based?
Québec Amérique is headquartered in Montréal, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Québec Amérique make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales (Paper) is the primary driver. The others are digital Content Sales, literary Café Operations and conference Room Rental.
Who are Québec Amérique's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Larousse, Leméac Éditeur, Éditions du Boréal, Les Éditions de l'Homme and La Courte Échelle. Broad incumbents are Gallimard, Flammarion, Actes Sud and Hachette Livre. Druide Informatique is listed as an emerging player.
Does Québec Amérique have an API?
No public API is recorded for Québec Amérique.
What industry is Québec Amérique in?
Québec Amérique's product category is Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAFAN, Children’s Reference & Informational Series Publishing, with a secondary code of EDAGAIAC, Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.