Institute for Family-Owned Business honors 7 Maine businesses at 2025 awards event

PHOTO / COURTESY IFOB Seven family businesses from across the state were honored by the Institute for Family-Owned Business at a reception in Portland on Oct. 8.

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By Tina Fischer

The Institute for Family-Owned Business honored seven Maine companies at its 25th annual awards ceremony Wednesday night at Thompson’s Point in Portland.

The honorees were chosen from a field of more than 500 nominations. The event was attended by about 450 people.

The awards presentation, hosted in partnership with MEMIC, is IFOB's largest event and fundraiser. Since its inception, more than 100 businesses have been recognized for excellence in various categories.

The winners were:

Allagash Brewing Co., led by Rob Tod, based in Portland, Renys Large Business award (25 or more employees)
Raye’s Mustard, based in Eastport, Chalmers Insurance Group Customer Service award
Calais IGA and Orono IGA, EOS Worldwide First Generation award
M&R Development Co., Scarborough, M&T Bank Innovation & Technology award
Freckle Farm, St. David, Shep Lee Community Service award
Southpaw Packing Co., Windham, Maddy Corson Small Business award (fewer than 25 employees)
Estabrook’s Farm and Greenhouse, Yarmouth, Geiger Environmental Leadership award.

More on the event

Now in its 31st year, IFOB is a nonprofit serving member businesses across the state, through consulting, seminars, peer groups and networking. An estimated 80% of all businesses in Maine are family owned. Catherine Wygant Fossett is the institute's executive director.

Also announced at the event were winners of IFOB's inaugural Maine Futures Scholarship: Chase Farnsworth, a native of Ripley who is attending Husson College, and Ethan Stockwell, a Scarborough resident who is attending Bowdoin College.

Guest speaker at the event was Matt Nielsen, third generation owner of Nielsen-Massey Vanillas Inc., headquartered in Waukegan, Ill.

Emcee for the event was Amanda Hill, anchor for News Center Maine.