Bow Street Market in Freeport and GrandyOats in Brownfield were named the Maine Grocer of the Year and Food Producer of the Year, respectively, at the annual Maine Grocers Association & Maine Food Producers Alliance annual awards on Wednesday.

Adam and Sheila Nappi of Bow Street Market were the 2013 Maine Grocer of the Year, and Aaron Anker and Nat Peirce of GrandyOats were the 2013 Producer of the Year. The awards were announced at the Maine Food Means Business summit at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport. The event was the fifth anniversary of the Maine Grocers Association and Maine Food Producers Alliance collaborative.

Bow Street Market has been in operation since 1946 and was purchased in 1974 by Karen and John Nappi, who expanded the market five times. Sheila and Adam Nappi purchased Bow Street Market in 2002. The company now has about 100 employees.

GrandyOats, which makes granolas, oatmeals, trail mixes and roasted nuts, has been in operation for 34 years in Brownfield in western Maine. Anker and Peirce began the business 13 years ago after they met in college at the University of New Hampshire. They now employ 18 people. Products are certified organic and hand-produced.

Adam Nappi serves on the Maine Grocers Association’s spirits advisory committee. Anker serves on the Maine Food Producers Alliance’s board of directors.

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