Artie T. to Market Basket Workers: “I Love You All”
Restored chief of supermarket chain speaks outside company headquarters in Tewksbury, Mass.
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Market Basket's restored chief delivered heartfelt words of thanks to his supporters Thursday, just hours after his return to the helm of the grocery chain was announced.
Arthur T. Demoulas, whose June firing as CEO sparked weeks of protests and boycotts, told a cheering crowd of hundreds of employees that he is in "awe of what you have all accomplished.
"I've always believed that we are born into this world at a certain time and a certain place to be with certain people for a reason and a purpose. Everyone has a destiny and because of you I stand here with a renewed vigor and a sense of purpose," he told those gathered outside the company's Tewksbury, Massachusetts, headquarters.
"And may we always remember this past summer, first as a time where our collective values of loyalty courage and kindness for one another really prevailed and in that process we just happened to save our company."
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Employees and customers hold a rally in support of Arthur T. Demoulas and Market Basket.
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Market Basket employees and customers are protesting the ousting of former C.E.O. Arthur T. Demoulas, demanding his return as president of the company. Check out photos from the scene. A sign that normally advertises groceries on sale outside of the Lowell, Massachusetts. Market Basket now asks for the return of Arthur T. Demoulas July 29, 2014. Demoulas was stripped of his management role on June 23, 2014.
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Employees and customers hold a rally in support of Arthur T. Demoulas and Market Basket a the store's Headquarters in Tewksbury, Massachusetts July 25, 2014.
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The former C.E.O. faced a potential ousting last summer as his cousin Arthur S. Demoulas and the board of directors voted on his position. A family feud dates back to 1971.
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A rebuttal to an ad Market Basket took out in the Boston Globe is seen at Market Basket in Tewksbury, Massachusetts on July 21, 2014. Members of the Board of Directors accused Arthur T. Demoulas of mismanaging the company, but loyal customers and employees say otherwise.
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Former Operations Director Bill Marsden drives by showing his support to Market Basket employees who continue to protest outside of the company headquarters on July 30, 2014. Marsden and Vice President of Grocery Joe Rockwell were also fired.
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Marsden wrote in a statement, "The Board's action today is driven by greed, pure and simple. Arthur T. Demoulas continued the tradition of his father, promising customers 'More for their dollar.'"
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State Sen. Barry Finegold addressed the thousands of Market Basket employees, former employees, customers and supporters who rallied in Tewksbury, Massachusetts on July 21, 2014.
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Customers look at limited options inside the produce section at the Market Basket in Tewksbury, Massachusetts on July 21, 2014. Many Market Basket employees refuse to work until Demoulas is reinstated.
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A photo of Arthur T. Demoulas hangs inside an empty seafood case at Market Basket in Tewksbury, Massachusetts on July 21, 2014.
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On July 24, 2014, Arthur T. Demoulas made an offer to buy the supermarket chain. Long-time customers Julie Handley and Charles Hoar offered their support for Arthur T. Demoulas on July 26, 2014, urging the Board to accept Demoulas' offer.
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As of now, Market Basket continues to consider sale offers. Ultimately, the decision will be made by shareholders within the family.
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Demoulas and the board announced late Wednesday that an agreement has been reached for him to buy for $1.5 billion the 50.5 percent of the company owned by his rival cousin Arthur S. Demoulas.
The restored chief credited employees' grassroots efforts for his victory, saying workers and supporters "displayed to everyone your unwavering dedication and desire to protect the culture of your company.”
“You have demonstrated that everyone here has a purpose," he said. "You have demonstrated that everyone has meaning and no one person is better or more important than another, and no one person holds a position of privilege."
The standoff had prompted intervention by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan.
Trucks have started making deliveries to the New England supermarket chain.
"Let's get to work and have lots of fun," said Demoulas.
Watch his full speech below:
The restored chief of supermarket chain speaks outside company headquarters in Tewksbury, Mass.
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