Governors Step Into Market Basket Feud Fray

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan are stepping up efforts to broker a deal to bring the Market Basket standoff to an end.

Patrick and Hassan actively participated in negotiations Sunday with feuding cousins Arthur T. Demoulas and Arthur S. Demoulas as well as several other shareholders.

The grocery store chain has 71 stores, all but one in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

A Patrick spokeswoman says the "the parties have made real progress" and are encouraged that a "resolution may be within reach."

Neither Demoulas cousin commented.

The long-running feud between the cousins that culminated in the ouster of Arthur T. Demoulas as CEO has led to worker protests and customer boycotts that have brought the private company to a virtual standstill.