For anyone who remembers the 2014 Market Basket showdown, the name Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas stirs up images of fierce loyalty, massive walkouts, and a corporate civil war that rocked the New England grocery world. Now, in 2025, Arthur T. is once again in the spotlight—but this time, not due to conflict at the top, but because murmurs of fresh tension are surfacing. As the company marks over a decade since the infamous family feud, some are beginning to wonder: did they not learn anything?
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Arthur T. Demoulas: Still in Control, Still Popular
As of May 2025, Arthur T. Demoulas remains the CEO of Market Basket, overseeing nearly 100 stores across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island. The business has posted a strong performance with more than $7 billion in annual revenue. Employees still speak highly of Arthur T.—his hands-on leadership and refusal to go public continue to win their loyalty.
What’s even more impressive is that the company has maintained its low-price model despite inflation and rising operational costs. Most CEOs would have buckled under the pressure. Not Arthur T.
But while things appear smooth on the surface, recent whispers from internal sources suggest another rift may be brewing—this time centered around succession, expansion strategy, and new boardroom ambitions from the next generation of the Demoulas family.
“Did They Not Learn Anything?”: Echoes of 2014 Return
Market Basket made national headlines in 2014 when Arthur T. was ousted as CEO by his cousin-led board. The decision sparked a six-week employee protest and customer boycott that nearly brought the company to its knees. Eventually, Arthur T. was reinstated after buying out the rival family faction.
Now, over 10 years later, some Market Basket employees are hearing unsettling discussions about potential changes in leadership structure, with certain board members allegedly advocating for bringing in outside consultants and revisiting expansion models that Arthur T. has long resisted.
This has sparked a new wave of internal concern:
- Whispers of another succession battle are causing unease among top-level managers.
- Talks of going public—a concept Arthur T. has always opposed—have been rumored again.
- Younger family members are reportedly lobbying for tech-driven operational changes that contradict Arthur’s customer-first, employee-loyal philosophy.
It’s too early to call this a full-blown crisis, but some employees are wondering if history might repeat itself.
Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas: A Decade of Expansion and Loyalty
Despite these fresh concerns, the track record of Market Basket under Arthur T. Demoulas is hard to question. Here’s a quick look at what’s happened under his leadership since the 2014 resolution:
| Area | 2014 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Stores | 71 | 97 |
| Annual Revenue | ~$4.6 billion | $7.3 billion |
| Employee Count | ~25,000 | ~30,000 |
| Public Ownership | Private | Still Private |
This growth has happened without the help of Wall Street, flashy branding, or digital gimmicks. Instead, Arthur T. has relied on loyalty—from both his workforce and customers. The company’s profit-sharing model and internal promotion culture have only deepened employee dedication.
But success brings new eyes. Market Basket’s quiet rise in a turbulent retail landscape has attracted attention from industry players, competitors, and private equity interests. Could this outside pressure be part of what’s sparking the current unease?
What’s Next for Market Basket?
The next chapter for Market Basket will hinge on how Arthur T. navigates these emerging challenges. Here’s what to watch in the coming months:
- Will Arthur T. address the succession question publicly?
- Can the company maintain independence amid increasing market interest?
- Will internal unity hold if younger family members push for radical change?
So far, there’s no official sign of a boardroom shift. But long-time Market Basket watchers know that silence isn’t always a sign of peace. Given the company’s history, even a small spark could reignite major unrest. And for many employees and customers, the question lingers: “Did they not learn anything?”
The Bottom Line: Eyes on Arthur T. Demoulas
The key to Market Basket’s future still rests on one name—Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas. His values have shaped the company’s culture and direction for over a decade. But if the rumors of internal pressure are true, we could be on the verge of another defining chapter in the company’s history.
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