Graduating Students Take the Food Industry into the Future

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.

Students delivered their capstone presentations in March, and two teams were selected to deliver again at the mid-April Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) conference in Honolulu, HI. All of the topics demonstrated the level of innovation and future thinking that is developed among this talent pool. The featured topics at WAFC included The Age of You and Invisible Hands.

By: Cynthia Brazzel, Director of Member Relations & Advocacy for the Western Region, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/graduation-cap.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Graduation Cap" title="Graduation Cap" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> This week the <a href="http://www.usc.edu/">University of Southern California</a> will graduate the 2016 class of students from the <a href="https://www.marshall.usc.edu/fim">Food Industry Management</a> (FIM) program in the <a href="http://www.marshall.usc.edu/">Marshall School of Business</a>. These students represent high potential employees who demonstrate the ability to be executive leaders in food retail. Students delivered their capstone presentations in March, and two teams were selected to deliver again at the mid-April <a href="http://www.wafc.com/">Western Association of Food Chains</a> (WAFC) conference in Honolulu, HI. All of the topics demonstrated the level of innovation and future thinking that is developed among this talent pool. The featured topics at WAFC included The Age of You and Invisible Hands. The Age of You challenges food retailers to consider the future of data and artificial intelligence and how these innovations will improve the relevance of the customer experience. Retailers will be able to create predictive and personalized shopping experiences for their customers, particularly Generation Z, those born between 1995 and 2010. Consumer data is likened to the “new fuel,” driving this new Industrial Revolution. The other featured topic, Invisible Hands, introduced in an interactive manner the new engineering breakthroughs in store operations and replenishment through a completely automated receiving and replenishment system at the store. The team points to the success of Amazon as it moves into the food retail category, leveraging its replenishment systems, and the need for traditional retailers to step up to in-store technology to respond to consumers. These exceptional students graduate today in Los Angeles. The 2016 FIM class is comprised of 36 students representing the following companies: Cub Foods, Pak-N-Save (New Zealand), Nestlé, Unified Grocers, Dean Foods, King Soopers, Myers Group, Safeway, Costco, Food4Less/FoodsCo, Pepsi Beverage Company, Fry’s, Big Saver Foods, California Specialty Farms, Smart-n-Final, Coca-Cola, Mollie Stone’s Markets, Stater Bros., Ralph’s, Niagara Bottling Co., Northgate Market, Fred Meyer, Bimbo Bakeries, King’s Hawaiian, Bristol Farms, Gelson’s, Raley’s, Smith’s Food & Drug, and Natural Market’s Food Group.

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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.