What’s Your Listeria Action Plan?

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.

FMI recently invested in an updated FMI Listeria Action Plan for retailers which reaches beyond the deli. Developed by retail food safety experts, this document is simple and usable so that your store managers can take even more conscious steps to reduce the risk of Listeria contamination in supermarket delis, and other departments with fresh and prepared foods.

By: Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD, FMI Vice President, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/food-safety-security/listeria-action-plan-cover.jpg?sfvrsn=2&MaxWidth=350&MaxHeight=&ScaleUp=false&Quality=High&Method=ResizeFitToAreaArguments&Signature=048BE7D9BC160D8DBBD5F146F1A0A615" data-method="ResizeFitToAreaArguments" data-customsizemethodproperties="{'MaxWidth':'350','MaxHeight':'','ScaleUp':false,'Quality':'High'}" data-displaymode="Custom" alt="Listeria Action Plan cover" title="Listeria Action Plan cover" style="float: right; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 10px;" /> While 41 percent of consumers hold food retailers responsible for ensuring food safety, 93 percent of consumers trust their grocery store to actually deliver on that expectation (<a href="http://www.fmi.org/grocerytrends">FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2015</a>). Retailers work tirelessly to serve customers and the health and safety of customers is at the top of the list of priorities. FMI recently invested in an updated <a href="http://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fs16-fmi_listeria_2016.pdf?sfvrsn=2">FMI Listeria Action Plan</a> for retailers which reaches beyond the deli. Developed by retail food safety experts, this <a href="http://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fs16-fmi_listeria_2016.pdf?sfvrsn=2">document</a> is simple and usable so that your store managers can take even more conscious steps to reduce the risk of Listeria contamination in supermarket delis, and other departments with fresh and prepared foods. The 2016 recommendations include specific action steps to limit Listeria growth with a focus on time and temperature; controlling product and people volume in RTE production areas; training on cleaning, sanitation and employee practices; complementary cleaning and sanitizing procedures; environmental monitoring plans that includes regular sampling; and incoming ingredient management which specifies best practices for retailer-supplier programs. The timing of the revised <a href="http://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fs16-fmi_listeria_2016.pdf?sfvrsn=2">FMI Listeria Action Plan</a> is particularly relevant as the US Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) embarks on a one year pilot program to evaluate Listeria control practices in retail environments. FSIS inspectors on routine visits to retail stores will be surveying the Listeria control practices in the delis and collecting information for future use by the agency. The FSIS survey is based on a checklist published in the <a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/29d51258-0651-469b-99b8-e986baee8a54/Controlling-LM-Delicatessens.pdf?MOD=AJPERES">FSIS Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes(Lm) in Retail Delicatessens June 2015. </a>  While employee education is foremost, supermarket associates can leverage their knowledge about store procedures and become food safety ambassadors to their customers. The best consumer facing tool is a campaign that the FMI Foundation supported through the Partnership for Food Safety Education in 2015, <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/11/06/how-to-help-customers-with-food-refrigeration-at-home">Go 40 and Below</a>. This consumer education program offers tangible messages, infographics, circular content and a sharable video to teach practices on how to avoid “the Danger Zone.” Want more information? Visit <a href="http://www.fmi.org/food-safety/food-safety-resources">FMI’s Center for Food Retail and Defense.</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.