In a statement, Market Basket board of directors said the terminations came as a result of a recent internal investigation that found the two supervisors engaged in “insubordination, making false and derogatory remarks about the company and people associated with it, and inappropriate communications with colleagues.”

Market Basket fired the executives, Joe Schmidt and Tom Gordon, claiming they worked to spark a widespread work disruption to help protect chief executive Arthur T. Demoulas.

The firing of two long-time Market Basket executives by the company’s board of directors was "among the worst decisions that could be made," according to the grocery store chain's CEO.