I read an article in the Economist, according to them Walmart is opening stores throughout Asia in accordance to Asian lifestyles. Carrefour, who was in the region first, is scaling back and selling off stores because they aren't as profitable as they thought. Part of this is corporate culture, Carrefour (big French company) wanted to run its business in the Carrefour way, all decisions are done in Europe. Walmart chose the franchise model, the store is designed and decorated like a giant chinese market, carries more local products (fruits, veg, meats, etc.) and buying decisions are made per store.

Thanks. I ll try to find it on the Economist site.

Living in China, I don't see much difference between Walmart and Carrefour supermarkets, both in decoration and in products, even compared with Chinese chains like Wu-Mei or Lianhua. They all have fresh meats (life frogs and turtles) and fish (a wall of water tanks with life fish), etc.

I found it, here.

http://www.economist.com/node/17101193

Nice, thanks again.

>> "Carrefour’s Asian strategy is to stay the course in China and Taiwan, [...]"

Looks like they only pull out of South-East Asia, not China, though.