Market Basket Board Fires Sue Dufresne

Mr. Demoulas and Ms. Dufresne’s reactions regarding the latest Market Basket firing.

After working for the company for thirty years, Sue Dufresne was fired by the Market Basket Board of Directors via an emailed letter she received while in her office on September 30, 2025 (*The letter was dated September 22nd, 2025).  In her termination letter, the board points to her speaking to the media and making “public statements that were not authorized or in Market Basket’s interests and/or that, in our view, you were aware were not accurate.”  They specifically listed comments in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald.  They also suggest that Sue did so out of her dedication to Mr. Demoulas.  Ms. Dufresne fully stands by the accuracy of her statements and made them (and others) in her commitment to the best interest of Market Basket and all its stakeholders.

Background

Sue Dufresne served as a key executive on the Market Basket finance team for 30 years after previously serving Demoulas Super Markets for ten years as an outside auditor and tax supervisor.  She is a CPA with a Master’s Degree in taxation.

At Market Basket, her portfolio was large. Alongside the Trustees of the profit-sharing plan, Sue oversaw the investment portfolio and reported its performance to the Board of Directors for the past seventeen years, making her a regular attendee at Board meetings.  Additionally, she oversaw and managed two Demoulas family foundations and administered several family trusts. 

With her firing, the Board has now removed seven of the top eight executives of the company, despite Chairman of the Board Hachigian’s continued false claims that “nothing will change.”

Ms. Dufresne also has been active for many years in the community, including serving on the Board of Directors and Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, and interacting with many charities and non-profit organizations supported by the foundations.

Mr. Demoulas’ Reaction

“For the past 30 years, Susan Dufresne has been instrumental in the success of the Market Basket organization. As a person, Sue is respected and admired for her professionalism, trustworthiness and financial expertise. As a longtime Executive, she has played a key role in ensuring the financial health of the company and its Profit-Sharing Plan. She has been responsible for stewarding the strong and steady results of the Profit-Sharing Plan that has benefited thousands of Market Basket Associates.

The board’s decision is deeply misguided as they have now terminated a most talented and dignified woman who has always advanced the Market Basket philosophy and culture in all her endeavors.”

Ms. Dufresne’s Reaction

My termination from Market Basket is the continuation of the unjustifiable leadership destruction implemented by the current Board 4 months ago.  Last Tuesday I joined a distinguished line of hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable individuals who significantly contributed to the success and growth of this outstanding company that were also fired. 

My actions since May 28 have been out of dedication and loyalty to the Company and all its people, including the high standards, values and ethics of the late Mr. Telemachus Demoulas and Mr. Arthur T. Demoulas.  I stood up for the truth because the entire Market Basket community deserves nothing less. 

Market Basket is a great company that has proven decade after decade that well-run companies can be rewarding for all stakeholders and still deliver outstanding cash flow to the owners.  Its business model and executive management team should have been supported and embraced, not rejected.  

I fear most for the future of the people of Market Basket, its Associates and Customers.