AThere will also be a German edition of the Gault&Millau wine and gourmet guide in the future. The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court has rejected the allegations of the French parent company, which has been owned by Russian investors since 2019 (ref. I-20 W 3/24). Gault&Millau had revoked the license of the German offshoot Henris Edition and wanted to ensure that it was no longer allowed to publish restaurant guides under the brand name.
The German edition uses “a rating system and business practices that in no way reflect the standards, ethics and values that our brand has stood for since its inception,” said the French gourmet guide.
Criticism of point awarding
The German licensee is the only branch in the world that does not use the French points system, but instead awards colored chef's hats in red and black, with red standing for outstanding restaurants. Gault&Millau, on the other hand, judges according to the French school grading system of 0 to 20 points. Grades are usually awarded from 11 points (“average cuisine”) up to 19.5 points (“highest grade for the world’s best restaurants”). The maximum rating of 20 points has only been awarded twice since its inception.
The licensors are said to have terminated their collaboration with Henris Edition in November. This is the “direct consequence of a payment default and the violation of further contractual obligations”. Hans Fink, the German editor of the Gourmet Guide since 2020, rejects the allegations against “Welt”: “We have paid the German license in full until 2025 – an effort for us as a small publisher.” Fink sees the allegations from France as damaging to his reputation. The Munich publisher took over the license from Burda Media in 2022.
The Higher Regional Court in Düsseldorf found (like the regional court before it) that there were no “any reasons” for effective termination and confirmed Henris Edition as the legal license holder in Germany. The court called the allegations made by the parent company “unfounded,” “inconclusive” and “not credible.” On top of that, the court found that the claim that Henris Edition was in arrears with payments was not true.
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