Move over coffee shops, it is time to make room for ice cream cafes. An increasing number of people are paying more than 30 yuan ($3.85) for a scoop of ice cream as trendy ice cream cafes are becoming more frequent in China's big cities.

Now, eating ice cream is about being seen, and not about cooling down during the rising spring temperatures.

Experts in the field estimate that Chinese people consume 2 litres of ice cream per capita, leaving them far behind the ice cream loving Americans who consume 19 litres. Still the growing group of affluent Chinese has made it a dream for local and foreign companies to be the ones to make the Chinese mainland really love ice cream.

A well-known luxury brand is American Haagen-Dazs which has about 30 cafes in China's largest cities, with 16 in Shanghai alone. The luxury monopoly may be challenged by Swiss Movenpick, owned by ice cream world leader Nestle. Movenpick is under-taking to break the ice for the luxury market.

Movenpick started its Chinese mainland launch in 2006 by focusing on four and five star hotels and restaurants in Shanghai where the influence of European taste was already present. The people behind Nestle also confess that many of the ice cream lovers are women who are concerned about their weight and health.

Source:佚名