The decision to end merger talks came after a meeting on Friday between French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Couche-Tard's founder and chairman, Alain Bouchard, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter is confidential.

Both Couche-Tard and Carrefour declined to comment.

(Reporting by Pamela Barbaglia in London; additional reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic in Paris and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Leslie Adler)

By Pamela Barbaglia