Drinks firm Halewood International is offsetting rising raw materials costs with new product lines.

And the latest offering is in high demand because of the Olympic Games, according to Crains Manchester Business.

Halewood has opened a £2.4 million bottling line in Huyton to feed demand for the oriental beer Tsingtao, which is brewed in Beijing.

The expansion has doubled previous capacity and is in addition to an investment of £5 million on promoting lead Lambrini brand.

Mr John Halewood said there had been cutbacks at the northwest firm.

He received a salary £2 million lower than previous because of the credit crunch.

But his investment in a racehorse Amberleigh House performed well, winning the Grand National in 2004.

He said: "The group will continue to focus on its successful strategy of new product development combined with acquisitions a tight cost controls."

Mr Halewood said the group would remain competitive despite rising pressures.

The Lambrini advertising campaign was part of a Christmas push, for which it is placing adverts on social networking site Facebook, according to Off Licence News.