Fears that an American boycott of French goods would decimate US sales of Jameson whiskey, part of the Pernod Ricard stable, proved unfounded yesterday when the brand reported a 7.2 per cent rise in turnover for the first quarter.

Pernod, the world's third biggest spirits group, posted a 10.6 per cent increase in core wines and spirits revenues to €713 million in defiance of analyst warnings that Americans might stop buying its products in protest at French opposition to Washington's war on Iraq.

Chief executive Mr Patrick Ricard said the company had not felt the impact of a threatened boycott. Commentators had warned that currency effects and the war in Iraq were likely to weigh on sales in the US which accounts for nearly one quarter of total turnover.

A break out of Jameson sales to North America was not provided but a spokesman in Dublin said the brand continued to exhibit strong organic growth in what is its second biggest market, after Ireland and Britain.

"Pernod is committed to Jameson and is putting huge energies into raising its profile across all its markets," he said. Pernod acquired Jameson as part of its 1988 takeover of Irish Distillers.

Overall sales to end-March tallied €739.9 million euros versus 1.19 billion the year before.