Grocery Stores Catering to a Food Truck Mentality

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.

who frontpage

member frontpage

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.

In the recent research by FMI/IRI on top trends in fresh, supermarkets are expanding their “Specialty Food Service” by installing sushi stations, charcuteries, juice bars, gourmet chocolate stations, Asian, Mexican, and many other specialty food areas. What makes this array of choice such a winning formula, is that according FMI/IRI, each food retailer can be looking at specific stores to determine which cuisines will be appropriate per location. Not only that, but the ability to transform the cuisine seasonally and utilize ingredients across aisles offers more efficient ways to use unsold produce or vegetables, or even create cross-merchandising strategies within the store.

By: Rick Stein, Vice President, Fresh Foods, Food Marketing Institute  <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/food-trucks.jpg?sfvrsn=0&MaxWidth=350&MaxHeight=&ScaleUp=false&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=A839D71960110746A722259C0F5615D2" data-method="ResizeFitToAreaArguments" data-customsizemethodproperties="{'MaxWidth':'350','MaxHeight':'','ScaleUp':false,'Quality':'High'}" data-displaymode="Custom" alt="Food Trucks" title="Food Trucks" style="float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px;" /> Decisions, decisions: Donuts with friend chicken? Yes please. Pho or savory crepes? I can’t decide. Maybe I’ll have a salad and then some bubble tea? Food truck customers are discerning based on what cuisine they crave, and you have to admit there’s a unique eagerness and curiosity among food truck customers – especially since there’s typically an app to track one’s favorite truck. I’ve always admired the entrepreneurial spirit of food trucks as they gather in public places during the lunch or dinner hours. Typically, the trucks station themselves in areas that allow them access to the masses, which in turn supports the order volume necessary to survive. Supermarkets are encouraging a food truck mentality within their four walls. While not exactly a vehicle with four wheels, the concept is still embodied in their fresh prepared food area. Supermarkets are quickly learning that in the fresh prepared area, they need to meet the ever-changing food trends that consumers expect. In the recent research by <a href="http://www.fmi.org/news-room/news-archive/view/2016/01/19/iri-and-fmi-unveil-top-five-trends-in-fresh-foods-at-fmi-midwinter-and-launch-educational-webinar-series">FMI/IRI on top trends in fresh</a>, supermarkets are expanding their “Specialty Food Service” by installing sushi stations, charcuteries, juice bars, gourmet chocolate stations, Asian, Mexican, and many other specialty food areas. What makes this array of choice such a winning formula, is that according FMI/IRI, each food retailer can be looking at specific stores to determine which cuisines will be appropriate per location. Not only that, but the ability to transform the cuisine seasonally and utilize ingredients across aisles offers more efficient ways to use unsold produce or vegetables, or even create cross-merchandising strategies within the store. Consumers are realizing their local supermarket is full of surprise and delight and a solution to cuisine fatigue. Now a consumer can shop his or her local grocery store and expect a full array of choices for every meal occasion, dietary requirement and budget. The research also shows that leading supermarkets are working on design and ambiance of the fresh prepared area, making sure their brand resonates with the consumer based on the design and equipment they are using the fresh prepared area. No wonder fresh prepared is the fastest-growing perimeter department and the fastest growing department overall. In fact, IRI predicts that this growth will continue for the next three-to-five years.  Food trucks in the store….. I challenge you to find that online! Learn more about the trends in fresh foods at <a href="http://www.fmi.org/FreshFoods">www.fmi.org/FreshFoods</a>.  Photo Credit: Huy Nguyen, Owner, PhoWheels

Read full article on FMI

Menus

Some of the main menus of the template are now set via the template parameters saving you having to set up menu modules for each menu. From this section you can choose what menus you would like connected with these pre assigned menu areas of the template.

Copyright Information

Enter the copyright information that will appear in the footer area of your template.

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.