How Long Before Market Basket Shopping is Back to Normal?

By Liz Taurasi/Patch

It was a strong show of support evident in customers at Market Basket stores around the region on Thursday morning. Hugs were abundant as customers congratulated employees who were touched with emotion by the compassion of their loyal shoppers back for the first time since workers and shoppers alike boycotted the chain in solidarity with employees fighting to bring back their former CEO.

Carts were full and shoppers were milling the aisles as Market Basket workers throughout the 71 store chain got back to business following the announcement on Aug. 28, that Arthur T. Demoulas’ offer to purchase the remaining 50.5 percent of the shares of the company was approved by board members and shareholders.

Now the real work begins.

Trucks started moving Thursday morning amid heavy activity at the Tewksbury warehouse, which laid dormant for almost two months. Employees were back at their posts all in an effort to get the stores restocked as soon as possible. Arthur T. Demoulas also addressed workers at the warehouse this morning.

The work stoppage means the shelves, which are normally filled with produce, meats and dairy, are waiting to be restocked. Non-perishables were aplenty in the Wilmington, MA, and Concord, NH, Market Basket locations Thursday morning.

Food vendors are also getting their shipments ready, The Boston Globe is reporting.

Local store managers and employees wouldn’t speak on the record beyond, “Thank you for coming back.” But employees are telling customers that they expect the stores to be fully stocked and back to normal in less than three weeks.

What will it take to stock the shelves of stores void of perishable items for nearly two months? According to The Globe, the stores need upward of 12,000 cases of beef, 120 truckloads of produce, 187 tons of chicken, more than 3,700 tons of dairy products and more.

Patch’s Tony Schinella contributed to this report.