This week, City Manager Jay Ash joined the growing list of local officials boycotting Market Basket. Like Council President Matt Frank before him, Ash has refused to shop at the supermarket chain until the dispute between former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas and company ownership reaches resolution.
“fblikebutton_button” Ash explained his position: “fblikebutton_button” “I am boycotting the Market Basket,” “fblikebutton_button” he stated. “fblikebutton_button” “I have not been to a Market Basket since this happened, and my wallet feels it, but I’m totally behind Arthur T. and the employees. I believe in what they are doing and support them by boycotting the store.”
The Chelsea location of Market Basket has become a stark illustration of the conflict’s impact. The once-bustling store now sits nearly empty of shoppers, a sight few would have predicted months ago.
The shelves tell an equally troubling story. Bakery, meat and dairy aisles stand largely bare, with staff spending more time cleaning than restocking merchandise. The reason is straightforward: the regular distribution trucks between Chelmsford and Chelsea have stopped running, as key workers in distribution either quit or were terminated.
The beloved local institution—known affectionately as “the Basket”—continues its visible decline before the community’s eyes.
The company’s Board announced earlier this week that it is reviewing multiple acquisition proposals, among them one from ousted former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. A prepared statement from the Board addressed the situation: “As the Board has previously noted, it is currently engaged in a rigorous and active process to consider strategic alternatives for the Company, including its possible sale. Despite reports to the contrary, Arthur T. Demoulas is but one of several potential buyers for the Company who continue to express a strong interest in purchasing the Company. While Mr. Demoulas’ offer provides a path toward solving many of the problems he has helped to create, it is but one alternative among the options the Board is reviewing. The Board will continue to evaluate all of the alternatives and ultimately make its recommendation to shareholders. However, the Board has no authority or right to force shareholders to accept an offer as that decision rests solely with the Company’s shareholders.”
According to reporting by the Boston Globe, Arthur T.’s bid involves purchasing 50.5 percent of family members’ shares. The Globe estimated the company’s total value at approximately $3 billion, suggesting the bid could cost around $1.5 billion.
These negotiations have exposed divisions within the Board itself, composed of family members and relatives. The central tension involves rival cousins Arthur T. and Arthur S. Demoulas, with the latter having consolidated control last summer—a maneuver that precipitated the current crisis. The Globe reported that Board member Rafaela Evans shifted her longtime support from Arthur T. to Arthur S. during this transition.
Advocates for resolution, including former longtime employee Dave McLean who oversaw construction of the new Chelsea location, have publicly urged Evans to sell her shares to Arthur T. According to McLean, this would restore Arthur T. to company control without requiring him to buy out the entire Arthur S. faction.
Stakeholders across Chelsea—suppliers, farmers, and neighboring businesses—increasingly demand swift resolution. Beyond the Market Basket company’s deteriorating reputation, those dependent on the store for business and customer traffic face mounting losses.