London, Nov 8 - Dutch supermarket retailer Ahold is no longer considering a merger with Belgian peer Delhaize , the Financial Times said on Wednesday, citing unnamed people familiar with the situation.
The newspaper said talks between the two companies had halted and there were no plans to revive them at the moment.
The people close to the matter, however, did not rule out that circumstances could change.
Neither Ahold, the world's fourth-biggest food retail and food service group by sales, nor Delhaize were immediately available for comment.
On Monday, Ahold declined to comment about speculation it could merge with Delhaize but said the group was keeping its eye open for opportunities.
The Dutch food retailer said this week it would sell its U.S. Foodservice business, slash debt and costs as it pulls free of an accounting scandal.