2015 Year in Review: Top Stories in Food Safety

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.

The regulatory landscape in 2015 offered innumerable opportunities to help FMI members navigate the intricacies and implications surrounding the Food Safety Modernization Act. Food safety remains a number-one priority for food retailers and FMI has committed to helping its members manage risk.

By: Kelli Windsor, Manager, Member and Digital Communications, Food Marketing Institute  <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/2015-year-in-review-food-safety.jpg?sfvrsn=0" data-displaymode="Original" alt="2015 Year in Review Food Safety" title="2015 Year in Review Food Safety" style="float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px;" /> The regulatory landscape in 2015 offered innumerable opportunities to help FMI members navigate the intricacies and implications surrounding the Food Safety Modernization Act. Food safety remains a number-one priority for food retailers and FMI has committed to helping its members manage risk. <h4><a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/food-safety">Top Food Safety Blogs</a></h4> <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/04/10/series-what-food-retailers-need-to-know-about-the-food-safety-modernization-act">What Food Retailers Need to Know about the Food Safety Modernization Act</a> (Note: Although we posted this in 2014, it continues to be one of our most popular blogs.) The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) represents the most sweeping change to food safety laws in over 70 years. FSMA fundamentally changes the way food is regulated in the U.S. and abroad and affects the entire supply chain from farm-to-fork. To help food retailers better understand FSMA’s impact on your business, FMI is dedicating a five-part series to the topic. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/06/30/summertime-food-safety">Summertime Food Safety</a> When I think about summertime, my first thought is all the delicious food—BBQ, grilled fish, fresh watermelon and sweet corn. Summer offers an opportunity for grocers to remind customers of proper food handling and storage techniques to prevent foodborne illness. Here are some great resources created with the <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/">Partnership for Food Safety Education</a>, of which FMI is a partner organization, for food retailers to use to better educate shoppers about summertime food safety. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/06/24/managing-the-risk-of-food-recall-to-keep-retailers-happy">Managing the Risk of Food Recall to Keep Retailers Happy</a> There are many ways that suppliers can make retailers happy: healthy options, affordable products, sustainable sourcing, and reduced waste are only a few.  What about simpler recalls? Or better yet, fewer or no recalls at all? No one, least of all you, wants a product recall to occur, however they do happen. And while recalls are certainly not easy for anyone involved, how can you make them easier on your retailer? Let’s take a step back to first understand what causes product to be pulled from store shelves. Based on data collected by SQFI, there were 2,155 global recalls reported in 2014.  Don’t miss out on the latest. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/users_only/mailinglist/MailingListFormPublic/subscriptions">Subscribe to the Voice of Food Retail blog</a> through our database or download the <a href="http://www.fmi.org/news-room/fmi-news-app">FMI News App</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.