Adds World Bank Health Specialist Tamer Samah Rabie: "we need to look at the link between the food crisis, poverty and nutrition."

Instead of trying to sell a wide range of non-food items, the new stores focus on a few specialist areas, such as electronics and textiles, and offer services such as baby-sitting and hair care.

Carrefour still shifts plenty of food, but it struggles to beat specialist electronics and clothing brands.