The Maine Grocers Association has honored the Tozier family – Dale Tozier Sr., Mary-Jo Tozier, Dale Tozier Jr., Michele Tozier and Aubrey Atherton – with its Grocer of the Year award.

The family owns grocery stores in Searsport and Brewer.

Dale Sr. started in the retail business working for his father, Dana Tozier, at Tozier’s Variety in Bucksport. He also helped his father open a new store in Castine in 1975. In 1986, Dale and his wife, Mary-Jo, bought their own store on South Main Street in Brewer. In 1992 Dale and Mary-Jo bought another store in downtown Searsport.