While it was business as usual at most of the Shops at Biddeford Crossing late last week, it was much more at the Market Basket store ”“ the first in Maine ”“ when news broke that beloved former CEO Arthur “Artie T.” Demoulas would return to lead the company.
Late on Wednesday, Aug. 27, an agreement was signed for Demoulas to buy the 50.5 percent of the company owned by his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, and his side of the family, for $1.5 billion.
Just a few months earlier, Arthur T. was fired by the chain’s board of directors, after leading the 71 stores throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire and the single Maine location for years. But battling over leading the company is nothing new to the family owned store, which was founded in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1916 by the cousins’ grandparents.
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Today’s editorial was written by City Editor Robyn Burnham Rousseau on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
Just a year ago, when the Biddeford store was readying to open, Demoulas was nearly fired, but managed to retain control. At the time, a petition signed by more than 43,000 people in his support was sent to the board of directors.
Arthur S., however, was able to gain control ”“ albeit for a short time ”“ this summer, when Arthur T. was fired.
Those who were newly in power, though, could never have foreseen the chain of events that were put into motion by that decision.
After Arthur T. was fired ”“ along with a handful of top employees in the corporate office in Tewksbury ”“ employees at the company’s two warehouses and company drivers walked off the job, sparking a movement that led to massive protests at the store and customers boycotting in a show of solidarity with the workers.
The walk off, protests and boycotts are basically unprecedented by a non-union company, and particularly because the workers were trying to get the fired CEO back ”“ rather than trying to oust him. The support has shown that people banding together and standing their ground can lead to change. It’s been inspiring to the middle class in New England and beyond, and was certainly a cause for celebration.
At the Biddeford store last week, the morning after the announcement, customers and workers alike expressed their pleasure with the outcome, saying they were happy to make a triumphant return to the store.
“Isn’t it wonderful,” said Dick Deschambault of Arundel, who was shopping with his wife, Terry. “It’s people power.”
Michael Jubinsky of Stone Turtle Baking and Cooking School Lyman, who was shopping, agreed.
“It’s regular folks, pushing back against corporate greed. Workers are standing up to say, ”˜No, no more,’” he said.
Those sentiments were echoed by Arthur T. himself when he addressed several hundred workers the morning after the announcement in Tewksbury.
“I am in awe of what you have all accomplished,” he said. “The public watched in awe and admiration because you empowered others to seek change.”
In addition to the political and social implications, getting Market Basket’s stores back on line is important for the regional and local economies.
Here in Biddeford, Market Basket Store Director Micum McIntire said he’d already called back all 270 part-time workers back to work last Thursday. Workers’ hours had been cut in response to the lack of customers and stock.
The typically full parking lot looked all but abandoned for the last six weeks. Over the weekend, however, word quickly spread that shelves were once again being stocked, and customers were being welcomed.
It’s a happy ending to a story that wasn’t likely to have one.
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