If you’ve walked into a Market Basket lately, you know the vibe. It’s loud. It’s crowded. There are no self-checkout machines beeping at you to "please place the item in the bagging area." Honestly, it’s one of the few places left that feels like 1994 in the best way possible.
But the market basket news today isn't about the price of 40-cent bananas or those rotisserie chickens that people treat like gold. It’s about a messy, high-stakes boardroom brawl that feels more like a Netflix drama than a corporate update.
We’re talking about the second "Civil War" of the DeMoulas family. And if you live in New England, you know that when the DeMoulas family fights, the shelves have a habit of going empty.
The Courtroom Drama: Arthur T. vs. The Board
Right now, the big story is happening in a Delaware courtroom. Why Delaware? Because that’s where the company is incorporated, even though its heart is in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.
In September 2025, the board of directors did the unthinkable. They fired Arthur T. Demoulas. Again.
If this sounds like déjà vu, it’s because it happened back in 2014. Back then, the stores literally ran out of food because employees and customers refused to show up until "Artie T" was back in charge. This time, the board—which is actually controlled by Arthur’s own three sisters—claims he was acting like a "dictator." They’ve accused him of trying to stage a work stoppage and trying to "unilaterally" hand the keys of the kingdom to his children.
Arthur T. isn't taking it lying down. He’s countersuing, calling the whole thing a "farcical cover-up for a coup."
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What happened at the trial?
The trial wrapped up in December 2025, and honestly, the details coming out are wild. We’ve heard testimony about secret meetings and "Wall Street mentalities" clashing with the "Market Basket way." The sisters, Frances, Caren, and Glorianne, reportedly want more control (and potentially more of the $40 million they get in annual dividends).
Meanwhile, two legendary executives—Joe Schmidt and Tom Gordon—were not only fired but were slapped with a restraining order to keep them off company property. Imagine working for a company for 50 years and being told you can't even buy a gallon of milk there. It’s brutal.
Still Winning (Despite the Chaos)
Here is the weirdest part of the market basket news today: despite all the lawyers and the family feuds, the stores are still crushing it.
The newest Dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index just dropped this month (January 2026), and Market Basket was ranked the second-best grocery store in the United States.
It beat out giants like Costco, Wegmans, and Trader Joe's. The only store that ranked higher was H-E-B down in Texas.
Why do people love it so much?
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- The Price Tag: In a world where a bag of chips costs five bucks, Market Basket is still the king of affordability.
- The Humans: They refuse to install self-checkout. They want a person talking to a person.
- The Loyalty: People in Massachusetts and New Hampshire don't just shop there; they identify with the brand.
But there’s a shadow over all this success. Shoppers are genuinely scared. One regular at the Burlington location recently told reporters he’s terrified that without Artie T, the store will become "expensive and hard to navigate" like every other chain.
The Expansion Map for 2026
While the lawyers argue, the "More For Your Dollar" machine is still trying to grow. There are currently nearly 100 stores across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island.
There’s been a lot of chatter about new locations in Maine, specifically following the success of the Westbrook and Topsham stores. However, the corporate instability has slowed things down. When the board is busy suing the CEO, it’s hard to sign off on a $20 million new construction project.
Compare this to Aldi, which just announced it’s opening 180 new stores this year. Market Basket is moving at a snail's pace, and that has some investors worried that they’re losing ground to the "German invasion" of discount grocers.
Will there be another boycott?
That is the million-dollar question. In 2014, the boycott was a grassroots miracle. In 2026, things are different. People are struggling with inflation. Can a family afford to boycott their cheapest food source for six weeks?
Probably not.
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But the "Artie T" loyalists are vocal. If the Delaware court rules against him later this year, we might see some empty parking lots. The mayor of Methuen, David Beauregard, even stepped in, begging the board to reinstate Arthur T. because the stores are a "community lifeline."
What Most People Get Wrong About the Feud
A lot of people think this is just about "greed." It’s actually more complicated.
It’s a clash of business philosophies. Arthur T. believes in "high volume, low margins." He wants to sell a ton of stuff for a tiny profit to keep prices low and employees happy (and well-bonused).
The board seems more interested in a modern corporate structure. They talk about "fiduciary duty" and "professional management." To a Market Basket fan, those sound like code words for "cutting the profit-sharing and raising the price of milk."
Actionable Insights: What You Should Do Now
If you’re a regular shopper, the market basket news today means you need to stay alert but not panic. Here is how to handle the uncertainty:
- Watch the Shelves: If you start seeing gaps in the warehouse-delivery items (like their store-brand water or paper goods), that’s the first sign of internal labor friction.
- Keep Your Receipts: There are rumors that the board might tweak the pricing algorithm to "align with industry standards." Basically, check if your "More For Your Dollar" is suddenly becoming "Slightly Less For Your Dollar."
- Support the Staff: The cashiers and baggers are the ones caught in the middle. They don’t know who their boss will be in six months, and many are worried about their profit-sharing checks.
- Follow the Delaware Court: The ruling on the current lawsuit is expected by mid-2026. This will decide if Arthur T. returns as the king or if the sisters take the company in a "Wall Street" direction.
The bottom line? Market Basket is a New England treasure, but it's a treasure currently being fought over by a family that can't seem to sit at the same Thanksgiving table. Enjoy the cheap prices while you can, because the next few months will decide if the store we love stays the same or becomes just another generic supermarket.