Shareholders reach deal to sell majority stake of Market Basket chain to former CEO

A New England supermarket chain that has been in turmoil for weeks over a workers' revolt and customer boycott has announced that the former CEO will buy a majority stake in the business.

Market Basket said in a statement late Wednesday that former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas would be returning to the company and that he and his management team would handle day-to-day operations while the purchase is completed.

Arthur T. Demoulas was ousted in June by a board of directors controlled by his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas, causing workers to stage protests. Hundreds of warehouse workers and drivers refused to deliver food to the chain's stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, leading to empty shelves and tens of millions in lost revenue.

In a joint statement Wednesday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan said, "We are delighted that the parties have reached agreement on terms of sale and resolution of operating authority, so that employees can return to work and customers will once again be able to rely on these stores to meet their needs."

The uproar over Arthur T. Demoula's firing prompted massive protest rallies outside the company's Tewksbury headquarters. After the company fired eight supervisors who helped organize the revolt, public support for the workers intensified.

Thousands of customers, as well as more than 160 mayors and legislators in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, signed petitions agreeing to boycott Market Basket. The chain has about 25,000 employees and 71 stores in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. The stores, usually jam-packed with shoppers attracted by the chain's low prices, have had only a trickle of customers for weeks.

Business analysts said the worker revolt was remarkable at a family-owned, non-union company, particularly because the workers were not seeking higher wages or better benefits, but instead were calling for the return of their CEO. The workers credit Arthur T. Demoulas for treating them like family, keeping prices low and leading the company's success.

Infighting in the Demoulas family has gone on for decades, but this was the first time the family's squabble had such a deep impact on Market Basket stores.

The company's new co-CEOs repeatedly urged employees to return to work, but they refused and insisted on the reinstatement of Arthur T. Demoulas.

Arthur T. Demoulas had offered to buy the 50.5 percent of the company owned by his cousin and other relatives on his side of the family. Demoulas had said Friday he had submitted his final bid to buy out his rivals' share in the New England company on Aug. 21. Store managers and employees have expressed confidence since that a deal was imminent.

Market Basket stores have long been a fixture in New England. The late Arthur Demoulas, a Greek immigrant who was the grandfather of Arthur T. and Arthur S., opened the first store in Lowell nearly a century ago. Over the years, Market Basket became a favorite of frugal food shoppers. Today, the chain has 71 stores and about 25,000 employees.