Advertisement Market Basket asks associates to return to work Fund set up for warehouse workers, truck drivers Share Shares Copy Link Copy

While the Market Basket board of directors met in Boston to discuss the company's future, thousands of employees and supporters gathered for a massive rally at the chain's Tewksbury headquarters Friday.Watch the reportFormer Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas wants to buy the fractured supermarket chain, but there are several other offers to take control of the company, including offers from rival chains.During the rally, a plane with a banner reading "Artie T save Market Basket! Buy them out!" circled overhead. In addition to signs and banners, workers and supporters waved stuffed giraffes -- the new mascot of the movement. Workers explained the animal symbolized their belief that "you can't be afraid to stick your neck out." As the rally was happening in Tewksbury, the chain's directors were discussing the company's next move in a closed-door meeting at Ropes and Gray at the Prudential in Boston.Arthur T. Demoulas and his side of the family offered to buy the 50.5 percent of the company held by relatives who currently control the company."We believe that our offer is a very full and fair one and should meet or exceed a seller's expectations of the value of the company," he said in a statement."We care deeply about Market Basket and all of our associates and we want to work together to return the company to its successful model for serving our loyal customers," the statement continued."The board will evaluate and seriously consider this proposal, along with any other offers previously received and to be received. Following its evaluation of all of the offers, it will convey its recommendations to the company’s shareholders," the board of directors said in a statement.Word of the offer came as workers prepared for the biggest and final rally in support of their old boss.Following the board meeting Friday, the company issued a statement that said, "The past month has been trying. We appreciate the strain this change of leadership has placed on our associates. We welcome back associates who are committed to Market Basket's customers. There will be no penalty or discipline for any associate who joins in what will be a significant effort to return to the unparalleled level of performance and customer service that have been hallmarks of the Market Basket brand. There will be no change to Market Basket's unmatched compensation and benefits.""They told us nothing was going to change but they ended up firing eight of the supervisors and all the higher up people," Market Basket employee Jess DeLong said. "It's tough to believe what they say."Communication experts said the offer won't fly, especially this late in the game."Just saying to workers, 'Come back to work. This thing is over,' is not going to work," Boston University communications professor John Carroll said. "They're handling this terribly. This one will be studied at Harvard Business School forever as a cautionary tale on how not to do this kind of thing."Meanwhile, rotting and spoiled food piling up at Market Baskets is fueling more anger. Earlier this week, dozens of pallets of food had to be thrown away after it sat in a truck in sweltering heat for more than a day.Images: Market Basket by the numbers"We can't serve it to the customer because it's been sitting there too long," said an employee.It is the latest chapter in the fallout stemming from a bitter corporate family feud.Images: Store shelves emptyStores have been paralyzed, with little fresh food on the shelves as workers leave their jobs to rally in support of Arthur T. Demoulas.A company source said that Market Basket will now try to work with food pantries to ensure more food isn't wasted.Market Basket employees also set up a fund for truck drivers and warehouse workers who are also standing by while they rally in support of Arthur T. Demoulas.For more information about the fund, click here.