BIDDEFORD — A statement from the Market Basket Supermarket Board of Directors issued Friday said protesting workers would be welcomed back without penalty or discipline.

Workers at the company’s warehouses and its drivers walked off the job more than a week ago. Since then, there have been no deliveries to most of the 71 Market Basket stores, located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and the single Maine store in Biddeford. Store shelves are significantly depleted of produce, seafood and meat.

The walk-out was out of loyalty to former Market Basket President Arthur T. Demoulas. Last month, he was fired by the board, which sided with his rival and cousin Arthur S. Demoulas.

The statement, issued after the board met on Friday morning in Boston, stated, “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.”

Industry analysts say worker revolts at non-union companies are rare, but what’s happening at Market Basket is particularly unusual because the workers are not asking for higher pay or better benefits, the Associated Press reported. They are demanding the reinstatement of beloved former CEO Arthur T. Demoulas, whom they credit with keeping prices low, treating them well and guiding the company’s success.

Employees say they are loyal to Arthur T. because of the way he treats them.

“We’re like a family,” said Biddeford assistant store manager Keith McGee, in an interview last week.

“You know the movie, ”˜It’s a Wonderful Life,’ he’s George Bailey,” said Tom Trainor, a district supervisor who worked for the company for 41 years before being fired last weekend over the protests. Arthur T. is “just a tremendous human being who puts people above profits. He can walk through a store, and if he’s met you once, he knows your name, he knows your wife, your husband, your kids, where they are going to school.”

Also on Friday, about 10,000 employees, customers and supporters attended another protest rally at a Market Basket store in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, according to the AP. Employees said they believe the fight between the family members loyal to Arthur T. and Arthur S. is largely over money and the direction of the company. They say Arthur S. and his supporters have pressed for a greater return to shareholders.

The protesters said they’re afraid the new leadership will take away some of the positive things about working for the company, like profit sharing and bonuses, the AP reported.

In its statement asking employees to get back to work, the board said, “There will be no change to Market Basket’s unmatched compensation and benefits.”

Many employees said they are distrustful of Arthur S. Demoulas and two co-chief executives who were brought in from outside the company: Felicia Thornton, a former executive of the grocery chain Albertsons, and Jim Gooch, former president and chief executive at RadioShack Corp.

On Friday, board members said they would consider an offer Arthur T. made last week to buy the company.

“Consistent with its fiduciary obligations, the board will evaluate and seriously consider this proposal, along with any other offers previously received and to be received,” the board said.

Meanwhile in Biddeford, the efforts of the walk-out are being felt.

On Sunday, Front End Manager Dan Lassiter said business was “very slow.”

“We’ve had a handful of customers at a time throughout the day.”

The grocery shelves are fairly full, he said, but “the perishables, the dairy, the seafood, the produce, the red meat are completely gone.”

Despite the toll the strike is taking on the store, Lassiter said, from the managers down to the associates, everyone is on board with the move to bring Arthur T. back.

— The Associated Press contributed to this story. Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.