Market Basket set to end 4 percent discount after year-long promotion

WALTHAM, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Market Basket will end its year-long 4 percent discount at the super market chain at its stated conclusion.

The 4 percent discount was already set to expire in December but had been widely suspected to continue.

The Waltham store is the most recently opened store - one of about five new Market Baskets scheduled to open. About 1,300 employees have been hired to staff them, and the timing of this promotion ending has some concerned the company is stretching itself too thin.

"I think the 4-percent discount definitely helps overall in total savings," said Anna Curry as she shopped in the Waltham store. "It could be well over a couple of dollars."

Customers are used to getting more for their dollar at market basket. But come Saturday...The year long 4 percent discount promotion will come to an end, and it could make a big difference to thousands.

"I'm on a fixed budget. I got a kidney transplant, so my check has to last a whole month and that 4-percent makes a big difference," John Gibson of Lincoln said.

According to the USDA, a family of four spends $246 a week on groceries. After a 4 percent discount, that adds up to about $500 a year in savings.

The end of the promotion coincides with the finalizing of a $1.6 billion deal that gave Arthur T. Demoulas control of the Market Basket company. And it has some concerned that prices could rise to cover the debt.

Demoulas reportedly borrowed the money from various sources, but in a statement, Market Basket's director of operations David McLean said "the debt taken on is manageable and we are committed to taking care of customers and employees."

But that doesn't mean prices won't go up.

McLean wouldn't go on camera, but did say the company has been dealing with a 3 to 5 percent increase in wholesale supply costs.

He says the company's aim is to absorb as much of it as it can but customers could see a bump in prices.

"The prices are usually far lower than the competitor's stores, so I think it's  gonna work out just fine," said Paul Bailey of Southborough.

Anna Curry agreed that she thought the prices would remain fair.

"I've been shopping at Market Basket for over ten years now and their prices have been consistent throughout."

The 4 percent signs aren't even up at the new Waltham store. The promotion ends on Saturday.

Cox Media Group