Witnessing the Food Industry

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

Our Purpose and Commitment

OMEGA is a West Virginia-based organization dedicated to supporting and advancing the business interests of the state’s petroleum marketing, retail grocery, and convenience store industries.

As a network of over 225 locally owned businesses, OMEGA actively promotes cooperation, advocates for favorable legislation, and provides education and resources to its members. With over 50,000 employees, OMEGA members significantly contribute to the state’s economy, generating more than 10% of all state taxes and supporting local communities through scholarships, charitable donations, and civic involvement.

OMEGA is committed to fostering industry growth while serving West Virginians with essential services like fuel, food, and convenience.

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Join a Community that Champions, Connects, and Elevates!

Your Essential Connection in West Virginia

OMEGA offers three types of membership: Convenience Store Members, Petroleum Marketer Members, and Grocer Members, all of which play a vital role in providing fuel, food, and essentials across West Virginia. As a liaison with state and national agencies, OMEGA works closely with organizations like NACS, PMAA, FMI, and the N.G.A. to advocate on behalf of its members.

We keep members informed through newsletters, legislative updates, an online resource hub, and educational seminars. Additional member benefits include access to the Encova Workers’ Compensation Discount Program and participation in our annual Trade Expo and fundraising efforts for children’s charities. OMEGA is here to support, advocate, and enhance the success of our industry members.

Recently, I was able to share insights gleaned from my experience by speaking at the Retailing Summit hosted by FMI’s newest university member, Texas A&M and the Mays School of Business Center for Retailing Studies. My talk at the virtual event was about the evolution of the grocery shopper in a tech-enabled environment and the profound impact the pandemic has had on the food industry.

By Doug Baker, Vice President, Industry Relations, FMI <div class="mg-image--circular" style="float: right; margin: 10px;"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/istock-1216693230.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=47991101_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="social distancing" title="iStock-1216693230" /></div> I started in the food industry with Fry’s when pricing guns were just being introduced and everyone thought they were all the rage. Back then, my parents’ ecommerce solution was asking me to call home before I left the store to see if they needed anything as I was their personal in-store shopper and delivery service! My career in the food industry has required that I constantly learn and grow. Today, part of my responsibilities at FMI involve discovering how technology is changing the food industry. Recently, I was able to share insights gleaned from my experience by speaking at the <a href="https://retailingsummit.org/#:~:text=Retailing%20Summit%20%7C%20October%208%2D9%2C%202020%20%7C%20Virtual%20Event">Retailing Summit</a> hosted by FMI’s newest university member, Texas A&M and the <a href="https://mays.tamu.edu/center-for-retailing-studies/">Mays School of Business Center for Retailing Studies.</a> My talk at the virtual event was about the evolution of the grocery shopper in a tech-enabled environment and the profound impact the pandemic has had on the food industry. As I shared findings from our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker series</a> with students, many of whom are learning about the food industry virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it struck me how this up-and-coming generation of food industry workers is witnessing the food industry during a remarkable time. We know from our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Trackers</a> that more shoppers are utilizing online options than ever before. We’ve witnessed an acceleration in ecommerce in food retail almost overnight. There is also an increase in the categories that are being shopped online. For example, in the early days of the pandemic, 12% of first-time online grocery shoppers shopped for fresh produce, dairy, fresh meat, and packaged bread—all categories predominantly shopped for in-store prior to the pandemic Today we know this demand for online grocery shopping exists and is likely to continue through the COVID-19 pandemic, but what will happen next? How many shoppers will remain loyal to online grocery shopping? Or will shoppers migrate back to the store, demanding the in-store theater they craved back before the COVID-19 pandemic?   It’s certainly a fascinating time to be studying the food industry and watching the consumer trends unfold. I hope these insights help students learn as they witness this history. For further information from the <a href="https://retailingsummit.org/#:~:text=Retailing%20Summit%20%7C%20October%208%2D9%2C%202020%20%7C%20Virtual%20Event">Retailing Summit</a>, please see <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-takeaways-from-2020-texas-am-retailing-summit-scott-benedict/?fbclid=IwAR0paG7bwgivFpqJetAdozGEpFrDVpNccpqk3LkDTZnpGV5cLE4voMdiIMo">Scott Benedict’s Key Takeaways from the 2020 Texas A&M Retailing Summit</a>.

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Supporting West Virginia Communities

OMEGA members play a vital role in West Virginia, supporting communities through substantial tax contributions and a wide-reaching presence across the state. With over 55% of the population living in border counties, our members are dedicated to serving both local and regional needs. Beyond business, we’re proud to give back, having contributed over $3.1 million to children’s charities since 2003, reflecting our commitment to making a positive difference.