Rémy Cointreau is shaking off China's bribery clampdown

French spirits giant Rémy Cointreau has brought cheer to investors with clear signs it is recovering from the crackdown on bribery in China that hit its sales badly last year.

Second-quarter revenues fell by only 3.2% to €277 million (£205 million) against a 9% decline in the first three months of the financial year, with China showing “gradual improvement”.

The firm, which uses burlesque artiste Dita von Teese to push Cointreau, said it expects the improving trends across most of its business to continue and even strengthen in the second half.

The UK also returned to growth with healthy sales of Rémy Martin and Mount Gay rum.

But a decline in Russian tourism hit sales of Rémy, Cointreau and Metaxa in duty free, Greece and Russia.