Market Basket Supporters Rally To Save CEO's Job

TEWKSBURY (CBS) -- A family feud is threatening to change a popular grocery store chain.

On Tuesday evening, Market Basket employees and customers rallied to save CEO Arthur T. Demoulas' job.

The board will take up a motion for his removal on Thursday, resurrecting a decades-long feud between two sides of the family, over management of the local chain.

A Facebook page set up to save Arthur T. Demoulas' job has more than 9,000 "likes."

An online petition has nearly 40,000 signatures, an in-store petition has around 50,000.

"The current CEO, Arthur T. Demoulas, who has shepherded the company through a wonderful period of growth. This man has always had the best interests of his employees at the forefront of all business decisions, often times at the expense of his own gains," the petition says.

Several postings on the Save Market Basket Facebook page include former employees who write about their experiences with Demoulas.

"It never ceases to amaze me that Artie T will stand by the doors and physically greet each and every customer and employee that comes through that door," one follower, who has worked for the super market since 1985, wrote.

The group is also planning to demonstrate outside the board meeting on Thursday morning in Andover.