RETAILING

Smith’s Food & Drug Ends Merger Talks With Smitty’s: The Salt Lake City-based company said it terminated merger talks with Smitty’s Super Valu Inc., a Phoenix-based supermarket operator, and also ended its plan to buy back up to 50% of its stock. Smith’s, which operates supermarkets in the West and Southwest, said it is still considering a “significant” stock buyback or a possible sale of the company. The merger discussions were announced last week. Smitty’s, which operates supermarkets in the Phoenix and Tucson areas, is controlled by Yucaipa Cos. of Los Angeles.