GLOBAL drinks firm Remy Cointreau has posted an 18.1% increase in operating profit to €245.4 million (£208.9m) in a year that saw it acquire Islay malt whisky distiller Bruichladdich in a £58m deal.

The owner of Remy Martin Cognac saw sales rise by 16.3% to €1.19 billion (£1bn) for the year ended March 31 as the momentum was maintained behind its brands in key markets.

Remy said sales were found to be especially strong in Asia and the US, with Europe also contributing to the overall growth – in spite of what the company described as a "mixed economic environment".

However, the Bruichladdich brand "did not have a significant impact during the period", having only joined the portfolio on September 1.

The distiller was bought from a group of private investors headed by Mark Reynier in a deal that marked Remy's first foray into the whisky business.

Remy said its performance was satisfying given that it followed "double-digit" percentage growth the year before.

Luxury brand Remy Martin underpinned the growth with a 25.2% rise in operating profit to €216.6m.

With sales up 21.5% to €719.8m, the Cognac benefited from the combined effect of price increases and product innovations in Asia, as well as strong demand in the US.

A positive contribution also came from Russia and parts of western Europe.

The company's liqueurs and spirits division defied difficult trading conditions in Europe, its primary market, to deliver sales of €239.1m, up 10.8% compared with the previous year.