The history of Market Basket spans generations, beginning when Athanasios Demoulas opened a small grocery on Dummer Street in 1917. Operating with a community-focused mindset, Athanasios Demoulas was remembered by a local news report for the sentiment, "Pay me when you can."
Decades later, the Demoulas family operation grew substantially under subsequent leadership. The first Market Basket store opened in Salem, New Hampshire, in 1975. Following the passing of Telemachus in 2003, Arthur T Demoulas took over leadership of the enterprise.
The business faced a significant test in June 2014, when workers and customers boycotted and protested until Arthur Demoulas was reinstated. The public support demonstrated the deep ties between the company, its patrons, and its workforce.
Today, Market Basket operates about ninety supermarkets across four states as an eight billion dollar business, adhering to the family motto, "More For Your Dollar," as reported by a local news report. Recent consumer data from Consumers’ Checkbook indicated that Market Basket merchandise was fifteen percent below survey average in November 2025.
The next generation continues to be involved in the operations. Telemachus Athanasios Demoulas is thirty-five years old and works on the grocery buying team. Recognizing regional contributions, the Alpha Omega Council bestowed its Emerging Leader Award on TA Demoulas in Boston on October two.