DK Announces acquisition of Canelo

DK is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Canelo Group, one of the UK’s largest independent publishers and a leader in digital and print genre fiction. Since its founding in 2015, Canelo has expertly combined traditional publishing strengths with digital innovation, growing an impressive catalogue of bestselling commercial fiction and fostering close relationships with authors and literary agents. The acquisition signals DK’s strategic commitment to broaden its publishing scope, adding Canelo’s thriving fiction lines to its world-renowned illustrated, nonfiction and children’s fiction titles. Canelo was founded in 2015 by Iain Millar, Michael Bhaskar and Nick Barreto and has twice been shortlisted for Independent Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards.

Paul Kelly, CEO of DK, said: “I’ve been incredibly impressed by what Iain, Micheal, Nick and the rest of the Canelo team have built. In a relatively short period of time they have established themselves as one of the most innovative digital and physical independent publishers in the UK today.

This partnership is a strategic evolution for DK, integrating Canelo’s renowned author-first approach and proven genre expertise with our global platform. Together, we’ll engage new readers and support talented authors by creating compelling, accessible fiction and nonfiction with a reach that spans DK’s global distribution networks. We see huge potential to grow in exciting new directions.”

Canelo will maintain its independent identity while benefiting from DK’s resources, allowing its imprints, Canelo, Canelo Crime, Hera and August, to reach broader audiences while preserving their unique identities. Canelo’s commitment to author and agent care will be a top priority, with DK’s backing to invest in and scale those efforts across UK and international markets.

This acquisition further underscores DK’s ambition to provide a welcoming home for talent across all genres. With additional communications planned for authors and agents, DK and Canelo look forward to building a collaborative future.

Iain Millar, MD of Canelo and Hera, said: “We are delighted to join DK Books, a publisher that shares our dedication to quality and author-centric values. This partnership provides us with superb additional opportunities to grow and to bring our talented authors’ work to a wider, more diverse audience. I hugely look forward to exploring the new creative avenues that this collaboration will open for our team, our authors, and our readers.

We’d like to thank all at DK for the warmest of welcomes, our advisors at ABG Corporate Finance for helping make this happen, and everyone past and present who has made Canelo the publisher it is today, and provided the platform for this most exciting new adventure.”

Canelo employs 22 people, and will continue to be based in its offices in Southwark.

About DK

DK is one of the biggest global publishers in the world. Launched in 1974, it celebrates its 50th birthday this year. DK publishes a huge range of books and works with a vast range of publishing partners including Sourcebooks, Rebel Girls, the RHS, Lego and the Smithsonian.