Market Basket is a low-priced grocery chain of 71 stores with 25,000 employees. Since July 18, there have been rallies, boycotts, and protests (like the one shown in the above, right photos at the Hudson, N.H. Market Basket) over the removal of former CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas. Arthur T., as he's lovingly called by his employees, was replaced by a board of directors now controlled by his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, a rival successor to the supermarket empire built by the Arthurs' immigrant grandparents. In the last three and a half weeks many members of the stores' management teams, sympathetic to Arthur T., were fired or resigned. And last week hours were cut for thousands of part-time workers because of the severe decline in business due to the job actions resulting from this family feud. The company also told about 200 employees they will be fired unless they report to work by Friday of this week. The 71 stores, like the Fletcher Street Market Basket, stay open but shelves are nearly empty due to interrupted shipping on the part of warehouse workers sympathetic to Arthur T.
Bill, 28, is the front end manager at the Fletcher Street Market Basket in Lowell, Massachusetts. Market Basket Store # 1. This is the site (above, left photo) of the first grocery store opened by the Demoulas family after they emigrated from Greece nearly 100 years ago when the city was still a booming center of manufacturing. This is still very much an ethnic neighborhood, where most customers walk to the store instead of drive and shop for several items once or twice a day. Bill has worked for the Market Basket Company for 12 years and knows many of his customers by name. One woman with a toddler in tow, looked at Bill and smiled. “Sorry I’m breaking the boycott. But someone needs ice cream.”
Q. Do people really love Arthur T. (ousted CEO of the Market Basket grocery store chain) that much?
A. Yes. Absolutely yes. Arthur T. has always taken care of his employees. He's always doing these wonderful things for people and not because he's getting publicity for it. He just does them quietly because he's a good guy. And he's been doing it for years. That's why there's been this reaction. Our receiving director died just recently. Mr. D drove to Haverhill to spend time with his widow. He's picked up the tabs for some employees' funerals to help their families. You'd think a CEO would just be there for the higher ups. But Mr. D is there for everyone - the managers, the baggers, the part-time people. Look at me. I'm 28, single. I've been working for Market Basket for 12 years and I just was able to buy a house. Not too many people my age, in my position could do that. It's because Mr. D takes care of his employees and we're able to make a living, a good living. So it's no surprise that everyone - the employees and our customers - reacted to this the way they did. We're a family. We're all a family. And the head of that family is Arthur T.
Lowell, MA
