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Supporters of the axed workers at the Raynal bottling plant in Cognac this weekend called for a boycott of the famous whisky brands Grants, Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, made by the Scottish company William Grant.

Right-wing militants from the UMP together with employees from the doomed plant responded to a call from Jean-Hubert Lelièvre, a former secretary of the mayor of Cognac, to launch a campaign to hit the company financially.  Thousands of leaflets were distributed throughout the weekend, in front of the Auchan store in Chateaubernard, at the Cognac Marathon, and at a basketball game in Vauzelles.

The closure of the plant was announced in October, with the parent company William Grant claiming that within three years the plant would be making a loss, citing plant inefficiency and the cost of raw materials and energy, despite record profits of 6 million euros in 2007.  A decision was taken to move the operation to Glasgow, the home of William Grant, with the Cognac facility closing its doors on 31 December.  42 workers will be made unemployed as a result.

Raynal Brandy was established in 1840, and was bought by William Grant in 2005 for 60 million euros.  The company produces the Raynal and Three Barrels brandy marques, and currently makes a 32% profit, something that the local people find hard to tally with the decision to close the plant.

France is the world's number one consumer of whisky, with Glenfiddich being the most popular single malt in the country.