REMY Cointreau, the French drinks giant that owns the Bruichladdich malt whisky business on Islay, said its revenue reached €223.2 million in the first quarter, up 0.4 per cent.

It said organic growth fell 3% following the voluntary withdrawal from partner brands and “one-off technical effects of price increases at the beginning of the fiscal year”.

READ MORE: Management change looming at owner of Islay whisky distillery

The end of contracts in the US, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic is thought to have cost €53m in sales. Group brands saw continued growth at 3.3% .

The House of Remy Martin grew 5.5%. Remy Cointreau said earlier its chief executive, Valerie Chapoulaud-Floquet, is to step down for personal reasons.