Ice cream chains find country hot

International ice cream chains such as Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins and Haagen-Dazs are aggressively expanding their networks in the country, despite a global economic downturn.

The US-based Dairy Queen (DQ), which had the largest network in China with 170 outlets by end-2008, is gearing up to add more this year.

"We plan to open an additional 100 stores in China this year. These will be located in 12 Chinese cities," said Echo Yang, marketing director of Shanghai Shida Catering Management Co Ltd (Shida), DQ's largest franchisee with more than 100 ice cream parlors nationwide.