A round up of business stories from around Maine:

Brunswick cafe named 2012 Retailer of the Year

BRUNSWICK (AP) — The Maine Merchants Association has named a Brunswick bakery and cafe as its 2012 Retailer of the Year.

Wild Oats Bakery and Cafe will receive the award at the association’s 79th annual meeting Oct. 25 in Portland.

The award winner is chosen on the basis of continued growth, community commitment and having a positive work environment. Maine Merchants Association Executive Director Curtis Picard said Wild Oats continues to expand, hire loyal workers and be an anchor of downtown Brunswick.

Wild Oats was founded in 1991 by David and Becky Shepherd.

The Maine Merchants Association is a nonprofit trade group representing over 400 businesses in the state.

Maine Restaurant Week adds November promotion

PORTLAND (AP) — Organizers of the annual Maine Restaurant Week are encouraging restaurants to register for the event so they can take part in an upcoming monthlong restaurant promotion in November.

The fifth annual Maine Restaurant Week is scheduled March 1-10.

The event serves as a celebration of Maine’s restaurant scene, with restaurants offering specially-priced three-course meals to showcase the talents of Maine chefs. Nearly 100 restaurants participated last year.

This year, Restaurant Week organizers are launching a promotion throughout November as part of the event. Restaurants must be registered by Nov. 1 to take part.

Maine college to install solar power system

WATERVILLE (AP) — The largest solar power panel system in Maine is going up at Thomas College.

The 700 panels, measuring 12,600 square feet, are scheduled to be installed on the Waterville school’s Alfond Athletic Center this week.

College officials say the 170-kilowatt array is expected to generate 11 percent of the college’s energy needs and pay for itself in 15 years.

The Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/PJxWPt ) says the system is being installed by ReVision Energy and is expected to be operational by mid-November.