2015 Year in Review: Top Stories in Sustainability and Fresh Foods

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.

From hot topics like food waste to research insights into consumer shopping behavior pertaining to fresh foods, FMI’s sustainability- and fresh-food-related blogs offered actionable insights to help grocers improve and strengthen business operations and align with consumer demand.

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-fresh-prepared-foods.jpg?sfvrsn=0" data-displaymode="Original" alt="2015 Year in Review Fresh Prepared Foods" title="2015 Year in Review Fresh Prepared Foods" style="float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px;" /> From hot topics like food waste to research insights into consumer shopping behavior pertaining to fresh foods, FMI’s sustainability- and fresh-food-related blogs offered actionable insights to help grocers improve and strengthen business operations and align with consumer demand. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/sustainability"></a> <h4><a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/sustainability">Top Sustainability Blogs</a></h4> <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/07/14/3-food-waste-innovations-from-the-food-industry" style="line-height: 1.5;">3 Food Waste Innovations from the Food Industry</a> Innovation gave us the barcode, self-checkout and click-and-collect. As we look to the overarching, complex issue that is food waste, innovation holds the key to solutions that address this conundrum from multiple facets. Here are three, out of the many, food waste innovations created by the food industry. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/04/09/how-food-retailers-can-start-sustainable-sourcing">How Food Retailers Can Start Sustainable Sourcing</a>  We’re hearing a lot of buzz about sustainable sourcing lately, but what is it? Sustainable sourcing of commodities or finished goods extends beyond traditional cost and supply metrics and ensures that the economic, environmental and social aspects of the global supply chains are responsibly and ethically managed. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/11/11/the-business-of-reducing-food-waste">The Business of Reducing Food Waste</a> The Food Waste Reduction Alliance has recently released a new tool to help with the business of reducing food waste.  The second annual <a href="http://www.foodwastealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/FINAL_FWRAToolkit_15.pdf">FWRA Best Practices and Emerging Solutions</a> guide highlights ways companies can begin, expand or enhance their food donation or food waste diversion programs. With success-proven case studies from grocery stores, food manufacturers, and restaurant and foodservice operators, this guide can help food retailers keep food out of landfills, and to reduce food waste at the source.  <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/fresh-foods"></a> <h4><a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/fresh-foods">Top Fresh Foods Blogs</a></h4> <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/07/01/how-do-customers-shop-for-produce" style="line-height: 1.5;">How Do Customers Shop for Produce?</a> Have you ever had a bird’s-eye view of how people shop the produce aisle? Do they stick to their shopping list, purchase unplanned items, compare prices? What brings them into the store and helps them make a decision on produce once they are in the section? FMI’s new annual research, <a href="http://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/search?action=1&Product_productNumber=3153">Power of Produce</a>, studies consumer shopping behavior in the produce department. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/02/24/meat-aisle-through-the-shoppers-eyes">Meat aisle through the shoppers’ eyes</a> For the tenth year, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and North American Meat Institute (NAMI) have teamed up for the <a href="http://www.fmi.org/store">Power of Meat</a> study. This new research looks at the meat aisle from the consumer’s point of view and highlights several trends in the way consumers are changing their purchasing behavior. 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.