Despite sluggish beer sales, Australia's last family-owned brewery, Coopers, has opened a A$40m (US$20m) operation in the South Australian capital, Adelaide, to increase its production by 60%.

The company, who saw a 1.5% fall in sales in the year to June 30 exacerbated by cool weather in the latter half of the year, has co-ordinated the expansion with the introduction of new products, aged beer and stout.

As well as its bottled beers Coopers has developed separate home brew kit and malted grain market to supply domestic and export customers. Director of brewing Dr Tim Cooper told just-drinks the new facility provided a platform for the next 50 years.