ELLSWORTH – Even the M&Ms were congratulatory.

Amid balloons, fancy hors d’oeuvres and, yes, personalized candy, the employees at the Shaw’s supermarket on High Street in Ellsworth were honored Thursday as the company’s store of the year for 2005.

The grocery store was picked ahead of 209 other Shaw’s locations in New England and was one of eight stores honored nationwide among the more than 2,400 stores in the Albertsons family, of which Shaw’s is a division.

“We could have the same store down the street, but it’s you who make this one special,” Shaw’s President Carl Jablonski told dozens of associates gathered in a conference room in the back of the store.

Jablonski and a handful of corporate executives from Shaw’s headquarters in Massachusetts joined store managers in Ellsworth and city leaders to make the announcement.

“This was a wonderful surprise and just a testament to the associates,” said Ellsworth store Manager Steve Silva on behalf of his 120 employees. “I think the difference here is that we are a small community and most of us live in Ellsworth as well, so everyone really is our neighbor.”

It was the second consecutive year a Maine store has received the store of the year honor. The Shaw’s in Waterville was the top store in 2004.

The criteria for the award was varied and included things like positive sales numbers and low percentage of “shrink,” or product that the store has to throw away, according to Jablonski.

But what really stood out about Ellsworth, though, was its commitment to customer service.

“It’s all about associates taking care of not only their customers, but their neighbors, and this store has taken customer service to another level,” Jablonski said, explaining that Shaw’s uses mystery shoppers and anonymous customer feedback to evaluate the individual stores.

“In Maine, we have always known we have great associates, but this kind of lets everyone else know, too,” added Larry Laderbush, Shaw’s area market director for the 14 state supermarkets north of Portland.

Ellsworth City Manager Stephen Gunty and City Council Chairman Gary Fortier attended Thursday’s presentation on behalf of the city.

“I see a lot of faces here that I see every time I come in our store,” Fortier told the employees, then corrected himself: “Your store.”