NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Longtime supermarket executive Allen Martindale, who helped grow Smith's Food & Drug into a multistate chain, died following a long battle with cancer at his home here March 5. Martindale, who was 75, began his career as an accountant with Scoville Wellington and later Coopers Lybrand. In 1964, he joined retailer Arden-Mayfair as corporate controller and was later named president of the company. After six years, Martindale was named chief financial officer for Smith's Food King in Ogden, Utah, launching a 19-year career in which Smith's grew from 12 small stores into a large regional chain spanning eight Western states. After his retirement from Smith's in 1988, Martindale helped restructure and reposition Slim Fast. Allen Martindale's son, Ken Martindale, currently is co-president and chief merchandising officer at Pathmark Stores. Other survivors include wife Barbara, a daughter and three grandchildren.
