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‘I would join a boycott’: Why readers oppose Market Basket’s firing of Artie T.
A majority of the more than 2,500 readers who responded to the poll said they plan to boycott Market Basket.
On Tuesday, Arthur T. Demoulas, colloquially known as Artie T., was fired as CEO and president of the beloved New England grocery chain Market Basket. His departure has sparked an outpouring of anger and frustration, especially among the store’s loyal customers.
The decision to fire Artie T. came after months of tension between him and the Market Basket board of directors. The board placed Demoulas on paid leave in May, claiming he was planning a work stoppage.
Board members accused Demoulas of “stonewalling the Market Basket Board” by refusing “to provide the Board with basic information about the Company and its plans or to comply with basic, lawful directives of the Board,” according to a complaint filed on Tuesday in a Delaware court.
Market Basket complaint by John Waller
The complaint also alleged that Demoulas refused to provide an annual budget to the board, give advance notice of significant expenditures, or meet with a single manager of the company, apart from the company’s CFO. The board also accused him of not engaging in succession discussions.
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“Despite extensive efforts by the Board and Mr. Demoulas to come to terms, the mediation was not successful,” Market Basket Board Chair Jay K. Hachigian said in a statement.
The conflict dates back more than a decade, when the family feud over control of the company led to Artie T. being ousted temporarily in 2014, only to be reinstated following a massive employee-led protest. In recent years, Demoulas had a falling-out with his three sisters, who together own about 60% of Market Basket (20% each) while Demoulas holds 28%.
Boston.com readers wasted no time in expressing their dissatisfaction with the firing, with many fearing the company’s future without Artie T. at the helm.
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“I think firing Arthur T. Demoulas will be the downfall of Market Basket. Nobody can run the store better,” Maria F. from Boston wrote in an informal Boston.com poll.
She was among more than 2,500 readers – a whopping 86% – who said they oppose Artie T.’s firing. The majority (61%) also said they would boycott the store in response.
On Tuesday, Market Basket's board of directors fired Arthur T. ("Artie T.") Demoulas. How do you feel about the firing?
I support it — The board made the right decision.
5%
I oppose it — Artie T. should have stayed.
86%
I'm not sure — No strong feelings either way
9%
Do you plan to boycott Market Basket in response to the firing?
Yes
61%
No
18%
I'm not sure yet
21%
Peter C. from Salem echoed similar thoughts, emphasizing the importance of Artie T.’s role in building the Market Basket brand: “Market Basket is a unique New England treasure. Artie T. has been an integral part of creating and burnishing that treasure, and the board should have found a way to keep him on board.”
For many loyal customers, the firing isn’t just about business – it’s about the loss of a figure they felt a personal connection to.
“Artie T. is always compassionate to his employees and his customers. I plan on standing outside Market Basket and protest strongly against him getting fired and encourage employees to do a walkout. We need to stand together.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some readers said Demoulas’ slower, prudent approach to expanding the business (at the rate of about 2 stores per year since 2014) was the nail in the coffin.
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“It’s obvious the sisters want to cash out and he doesn’t,” reader Jerome from Woburn said.
Others echoed the board’s claims that he was not cooperating with requests to share more financial information and succession plans.
“Artie was not sharing info with family or the board. members. It’s been going on for years. They had to do something. If you owned a large part of a company and haven’t seen any reporting, what would you do?” an anonymous reader said.
In a statement on Wednesday, board chair Jay Hachigian assured customers that the supermarket wouldn’t change its “operations, profit-sharing, bonuses or culture.”
“[We] will continue to offer the best groceries at the lowest prices anywhere in New England – well into the future,” Hachigian said in the statement.
Below, readers share their thoughts on Artie T.’s firing – and whether or not they plan to boycott Market Basket.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
On Tuesday, Market Basket’s board of directors fired Arthur T. (“Artie T.”) Demoulas. How do you feel about the firing?
I oppose it — Artie T. should have stayed.
“I do not believe this decision was in the best interests of the hard working employees nor in the faithful, loyal customers of Market Basket. I fear that this New England institution will change and not for the better.” – B.C., Sandown, New Hampshire
“I would join a boycott. Artie T embodies the old-school values of the founders of Demoulas Markets. He values his employees and takes care of them and their families in times of need. We clearly need more of this in the world!” – Nancy G., Manchester-by-the-sea
“Arthur Demoulas has always cared about his employees first. It’s been evident throughout the 40 years my family and I have been shopping there. I always trusted that he cared about the public too. I’m infuriated that his family and the board fired him without reason. As long as Arthur is ousted, I will not shop there again.” – Rita C., Salem
“The company runs well and is a shining example of how a business can make huge profits while providing excellent prices and services to their customer base as well as treat their employees with respect. The sisters now in charge have zero interest in actually running this company and I bet they will soon be selling it. They are greedy and small-minded.
I hope for a second strike. I will not set foot in Market Basket when it is being run by family members who don’t care about the history of the business, the employees who make it great or the loyal customers.” – Ramona B., Winchester
“Market Basket isn’t just a fantastic grocery store, it is affordable, delicious, and appeals for the masses. Folks from all walks of life are able to shop there and are greeted by friendly staff, a wide selection of high quality and affordable food, and a clean, easy to use store. I am a third generation MB shopper; it is part of mine and my family’s weekly ritual. My four-year-old daughter yells in excitement when we see an MB truck on the road. Artie T must be re-instated as he is the heart and soul of the grocery store my family and I deeply love.” – Ellie, Boston
“Mr. DeMoulas has dedicated his life to this organization and has done so successfully. Clearly, the sisters are trying to move in, perhaps to instill their own children as successors. This was poorly handled and I, for one, will boycott the company from here on to demonstrate my displeasure.” – Stacey A., Wayland
I support it — The board made the right decision.
“The board is doing their job. I’m sure Arthur T. is a nice guy, but this is the board’s call as they act in the best interest of the company.” – Jim V., Hudson
“Leaders need to be transparent. There is a lot of drama and ‘smoke’ here instead, and boards should act independently.” – Jamie, Newton
“He seemed like a person that wasn’t going to take orders from anybody and he felt he was the king of the company. From what I’ve heard in the media and in the newspapers, it seems to me that it was either his way or no way…He didn’t like taking orders from the board and he didn’t like acting like a true CEO, so he got what he deserved from him and his underlings. It’s not his company.” – William R., Watertown
“It seems that corporate leadership reorganizations, mergers, consolidations and takeovers are common in today’s world for nonprofit and profit brands. If the Board of Directors felt it was a time for leadership change at Market Basket and legally voted to do so, it was destined to happen.” – Rick P., Billerica
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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