Johnnie Alford, Ed Hughes, Howard Hatfield, Roy Theriot and Bruce Thompson founded Market Basket in early 1962.

Three of the grocers remained one-supermarket operators while Hughes and Thompson formed a 50-50 corporation for joint expansion.

During the early 1970s they obtained former A&P, Kroger and Weingarten's stores in Lake Charles, Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange.

The next decade saw Market Basket begin an extensive remodeling and expansion program for half of the chain.

During the summer of 2001, the company purchased two Hughes Market Basket stores, in Port Arthur and Nederland.