Market Basket Workers Get Holiday Bonus

By Liz Taurasi

Market Basket employees were paid holiday bonuses this week, just three months after Arthur T. Demoulas returned to the helm of the supermarket chain.

Several of the chain’s 71 stores are on the North Shore, including a location on Endicott Street in nearby Danvers, where many Hamilton and Wenham residents shop. There are also stores in Gloucester, Middleton, Revere and Salem. The stores are located across Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with one store in Maine.

Employee bonuses this year matched or exceeded what employees received in the past, the Lowell Sun is reporting, and were the first bonus checks handed out since Arthur T.’s return in late August.

While Market Basket’s Assistant Director of Operations declined to tell the Sun how much the bonuses totaled this year, the paper is reporting 2013 Christmas bonuses totaled $44 million.

Arthur T. Demoulas returned to the helm of Market Basket operations in late August, a month and a half after employees of the Massachusetts-based supermarket chain protested the ouster of their beloved CEO standing firm in their beliefs that together with the company they built one of the greatest business models in the country.

In late August, the remaining 50.5 percent shares of the company were sold to Arthur T. who was ousted in June when a majority of the company’s board shifted in support of Arthur T.’s cousin and rival, Arthur S. Demoulas.

The agreement marked the end of a long, hard won fight by Market Basket employees, and the beginning of rebuilding the supermarket chain’s brand and bringing back it’s loyal customer base.

Documentary film being made

Portsmouth, N.H. film companies, JBC Films & CrossCurrent Communications, are also raising $50,000 to complete a new film about the struggle called “FOOD FIGHT - Inside the Battle for Market Basket.” The group has a kickstarter.com fundraising effort ongoing. Here’s a clip about the film and the effort.