C&C GROUP has hailed a market-beating performance by Tennent’s Lager and said it was on track to deliver full-year operating profits of around €86 million (£76.3m).

The Dublin-based drinks company said its flagship Tennent’s brand had grown share in the independent free trade and the grocery sector in the 12 months ended February 28, with its wholesale operation returning to growth. Net sales revenues for the brand are expected to have risen by three cent while the overall beer market in Britain declined two per cent.

The company, which made an operating profit of €95m in 2017, said while the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol in Scotland “may result in some short-term market disruption”, it will bring value to the beer category in the long term.