Business & Tech

Market Basket CEO Safe—For Now

A group of NH workers traveled to Massachusetts to support CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, the target of a possible ouster effort.

By Bryan McGonigle, John Castelluccio, and Jason Claffey

Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas on Thursday survived a board meeting about his possible ouster.

A contingent of New Hampshire Market Basket workers traveled to Andover, Mass.—the site of the meeting—to rally in support of Demoulas.

The CEO is at odds with his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, who has lobbied board members to remove him, arguing he has not listened to the board and not spent money wisely, according to the Lowell Sun.

The board on Thursday did not announce a decision. It will meet again in a few weeks, at which point it could decide Demoulas' fate.

Workers fear that if Demoulas is removed, their profit sharing and bonuses could be cut. They also said prices could rise for consumers.

Demoulas issued a statement following Thursday's events, a statement in which he thanked local residents and employees for their support.

"I am pleased with today's result," wrote Demoulas in a statement e-mailed to Patch. "I hope to work constructively with the Board going forward. It is my desire to continue to look out for the best interests of or customers and employees. Together we have built a fine organization and I am extremely proud of you. Thanks to everybody for their tremendous outpouring of support."

One of the New Hampshire workers who attended the rally was Bill Currier, who works at a Market Basket in Portsmouth. He said workers are concerned about their paychecks.

"People rely on that money," Currier said.

Another worker at the rally was Stefanie Faria, who works at a Market Basket in Peabody, Mass.

"The current CEO is doing a great job," Faria said. "He's done everything he can for us."

She was one of thousands who attended the rally in support of Arthur T. Demoulas at the Wyndham Hotel, where the board held its meeting.

Market Basket, based in Tewksbury, Mass., operates about 70 grocery stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and employs about 20,000 workers.


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