Former Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, whose firing last month has launched a wave of employee protests, issued a statement today for the first time since he was fired by a board of directors led by his cousin Arthur S. Demoulas.

Embattled former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas last summer.

Arthur T. Demoulas did not address his own firing, but urged the company’s current leadership to reinstate recently fired employees. At least eight management-level employees who have protested for his reinstatement were fired Sunday.

His statement read:

“This is the first time I have commented publicly on the recent events at Market Basket. The success of Market Basket is the result of two things: a business model that works and the execution of it by a dedicated and impassioned team of associates. Their fierce loyalty to the company and its customers has always been deeply valued. In the final analysis, this is not about me. It is about the people who have proven their dedication over many years and should not have lost their jobs because of it. I urge that they be reinstated in the best interest of the company and our customers.’’


Arthur T. also spoke with The Boston Globe, saying in part:

“This company is my passion. It’s the life’s work of my dad and myself and a lot of other people. We’re very proud of what we’ve built together and of the culture that we’ve established.’’

You can read more from the Globe here.