Soaring demand for Clan Campbell whisky helped drinks group Pernod Ricard to a 15% growth in interim pretax profits to €168.6m (£105m), but the foot and mouth crisis hit its UK wholesale grocery business.

The launch of a malt brand pushed sales of export brand Clan Campbell up 19%, while Jameson and Bushmills rose 14% and 9% respectively.

The Paris group saw total turnover rise 7.4% to €2.2bn with a powerful performance from its core spirits and wine business.

The launch of a sparkling white wine under the Jacob's Creek banner lifted its sales by 25% in the first half over the same period last year.

Analysts described the results as "impressive" and said they were hopeful a £2.25bn takeover of Seagram assets would go through soon without big changes.

Pernod Ricard has begun planning the integration of the two businesses and said this and related asset sale talks were ahead of schedule. Sources expected a deal for the disposal of Orangina-Pampryl to be signed next week.