Summer weather has arrived in China’s major cities this week and as ever the ice cream wars have started.

Unilever and Nestle have both announced that they are increasing their investments in China to gain share in the ice-cream market and take on the locals in the country’s annual RMB23bn (US$2.78bn) market.

Unilever is looking to increase its 10% national share of China’s market with a RMB150m promotional campaign for the Wall’s brand this summer. Nestle is also planning to spend big as are local players Beijing Sanyuan Foods and Shanghai Bright Dairy.