We've been shoppoing at MB since we moved to the Boston suburbs in 1996. They were a discount store, treadworn facility, no frills, great meat but ech vegetables. The prices stayed low and people kept going for the last 18 years as they've grown into a dominant force for supermarkets. Artie S.'s power grab for greed must be answered to.
Over last 18 years we've seen many of the same people working there, diligently and proudly, greeting them with familiarity. Their name tags reflecting how long they've worked there, many in the 2 digits, the highest I've seen is 47 years. An unexpectedly welcoming place, reminiscent of childhood memories going with my mom to the Kosher Butcher for meat and enduring endless conversations about "the kids, the wife etc..." Nothing promotes customer loyalty than happy and engaged employees. Even as prices rose far more than the new "supermarkets" she'd tell my dad we'd stick with (the butcher). I also remember when MB closed my local store for renovations and how concerned we were that prices would go up, like always. But, nope. Prices remained the same, part of Artie T.'s (ATD) commitment to use profit for growth, not debt.
I'm writing this because yesterday, rather than my 7AM trip to MB for our weekly groceries, we went to the local Stop and Shop. Everything was a dollar or more higher, at least 15% more. I had hoped they would be maneuvering for market share with the MB boycotters, but if this is price reductions we're screwed. I'm sure if we look around we can find a store with somewhat better prices but our friends tell us that without MB our food bills will be going up a lot.
I sincerely hope for ATD's return for the employees, who deserve the treatment they recieved under his care, his customers who've become dependent upon their lower prices and high quality, and the lesson to short term money grubbing b-school thinking that they need to learn that leaving a legacy (happy well compensated employees, a profitable business beloved by it's community) is better than squeezing out a few more bucks today.
I support the workers because a strong middle class, one well paid with disposable income, is the economic engine that made this country wealth. Treating people fairly with respect and dignity is what made this country great. And I think we can find great again. If the good guys win here we are on the right path. (updated to clarify and fix grammar)