Foyles receives 'milestone' Penguin delivery
29th July 2010
Penguin has revealed that it has celebrated a 'key milestone'
with help from independent bookshop Foyles.
The publisher announced that it recently shipped its 500
millionth unit from its distribution centre in Rugby, Warwickshire,
and Foyles took delivery of the landmark item.
Sam Husain, chief executive of Foyles, was presented with the
book at the chain's Charing Cross Road store after it was
handpicked from Penguin's distribution centre on July 8th.
'The half billionth unit shipped was
J.D Salinger's Catcher
in the Rye, in a tribute to the American author who was
catapulted to fame in 1951 with the publication of the novel,' the
publisher added.
Penguin imprint Hamish Hamilton relaunched the novel earlier
this year to commemorate the author's death. The new version boasts
a new cover that had been approved by Salinger.
The company also said it is a 'fitting tribute' that the centre
shipped its half billionth unit as the firm celebrates its 75th
year in business.
Penguin was launched in 1935, after founder Allen Lane wanted to
offer readers a line of affordable paperbacks. Its first list
included works from
Ernest Hemingway,
Agatha Christie and
Andre Maurois.