Fight for our Market Basket
It’s become clear that the Market Basket board is executing a hostile takeover from leadership, with the goal of increasing shareholder profits at the expense of loyal customers and long and short term employees. This likely includes price increases, employee-negative changes to Market Basket’s profit share program, and (ugh) self-checkout.
This echoes the 2014 Market Basket conflict, with some key differences. The Board’s placing of Arthur T. on administrative leave has limited his and his team’s ability to communicate to the public, as he still holds a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders. The drawn-out nature of this conflict has led to consumer confusion, limiting our ability to activate in support of Arthur T.
On July 22nd, Joe Schmidt and Paul Quigley went on GBH to discuss the ongoing conflict. Two hours later they were fired.
Timeline
May 2025
May 28: The Market Basket board places Arthur T. Demoulas on paid administrative leave, citing allegations he was planning a work stoppage and asserting a unilateral right to appoint his children as successors. Also placed on leave were his children, Telemachus and Madeline, as well as Director of Operations Joe Schmidt and Grocery Supervisor Tom Gordon.
May 29: Arthur T. Demoulas' supporters quickly rally, calling the board's investigation a "farcical cover for a hostile takeover" and Market Basket CEO on Paid Leave Amid Family Clashes
Late May: Directors Joe Schmidt and Tom Gordon publicly defend Demoulas, rejecting the board's claims about a planned work stoppage and alleging the conflict is fueled by Demoulas' sisters seeking greater control and possibly selling the company. The board also cites Demoulas' resistance to a succession plan and his desire to appoint his children to succeed him without board approval.
June 2025
June 2: Board members further detail their disagreements with Demoulas, highlighting issues of corporate governance and Demoulas' alleged disregard for their authority.
July 2025
July 9: A supervisor with 44 years of experience at Market Basket is suspended amidst the conflict.
July 22: Joe Schmidt, Director of Operations, and Paul Quigley, Grocery Supervisor, are fired by the board, who allege insubordination, derogatory remarks about the company, and inappropriate communication. Demoulas strongly condemns the firings, calling the executives "part of the heart and soul of the company" and the firings "collateral damage in this pre-planned coup". Schmidt and Gordon respond publicly, with Schmidt asserting he never heard Demoulas mention a work stoppage and suggesting the board seeks to remove Demoulas to pave the way for a new successor.