ANDOVER, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com/AP) – The fight over control of supermarket chain Market Basket is spreading outside the boardroom. Shoppers, employees, and some lawmakers are hoping to save the job of the current CEO Arthur T. Demoulas.
A huge crowd in support of Arthur T. Demoulas was protesting outside the headquarters in Andover Thursday morning. They were there to testify in support of his leadership, under which they say the company and their families have prospered.
"My husband has worked for this company for over 30 years," Noel Gordon told The Boston Globe. "He started as a sacker and has moved his way up. There are not many companies left where someone without a college degree can live the American dream, and he's been able to do that."
The motion before the Board of Directors is being spearheaded by the company's largest shareholder, his cousin, Arthur S. Demoulas.
Some members of the Demoulas family have accused him of reckless spending and failing to accept board ownership. The family feud over company ownership has gone on for decades.
Online and in-store petitions have collected more than 90,000 total signatures.
A Facebook page set up to save Arthur T. Demoulas' job had almost 11,000 votes as of Thursday morning.
The Board of Directors vote is set for Thursday.
Market Basket has 71 stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.