Grocery Stores: The Go-To Place for Cookout Supplies and 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.

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.

Consumers take personal responsibility for ensuring their own food safety (FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends Report 2016), but retailers can play a role in helping shoppers become more knowledgeable about food safety. So, as you help your customers gather supplies to celebrate Independence Day, take the opportunity to help educate shoppers about summer time food safety and remind them to be food safe by following Fight BAC®’s Core Four Messages—Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.

By: Ashley Eisenbeiser, Director, Food and Product Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/grilling.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Grilling" title="Grilling" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> Whether its burgers and hot dogs, potato salad and baked beans, or paper plates and utensils, the grocery store is the go-to place for your cookout essentials. This weekend, families decked out in their red, white, and blue outfits will flock to their local grocery store looking for the perfect dish to bring to their neighborhood potluck cookout. Consumers take personal responsibility for ensuring their own food safety (<a href="http://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends-2016">FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends Report 2016</a>), but retailers can play a role in helping shoppers become more knowledgeable about food safety. So, as you help your customers gather supplies to celebrate Independence Day, take the opportunity to help educate shoppers about <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2015/06/30/summertime-food-safety">summer time food safety</a> and remind them to be food safe by following <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/">Fight BAC®’s</a> Core Four Messages—Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill. FMI is a partner organization of the <a href="file:///C:/Users/kjw/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/SJV2ZH41/fightbac.org">Partnership for Food Safety Education</a> which offers a number of resources for grocery stores to share with shoppers during this grilling season to prevent foodborne illness. Here are a few resources to help: Fight BAC® Core 4 Fact Sheets: <ul> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Clean_FINAL.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+CLEAN&utm_campaign=7_28+if+you+do+something+say+something&utm_medium=email">Clean Fact Sheet</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Separate_FINAL.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+SEPARATE&utm_campaign=7_28+if+you+do+something+say+something&utm_medium=email">Separate</a> Fact Sheet</li> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Cook_revlinksFINAL.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+COOK&utm_campaign=new+core+4+fact+sheets&utm_medium=email">Cook</a> Fact Sheet</li> <li><a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/PFSE-7696-Fact-Sheets-Chill_revlinksFINAL-1.pdf?utm_source=It%27s+Basic-+CHILL&utm_campaign=new+core+4+fact+sheets&utm_medium=email">Chill</a> Fact Sheet </li> </ul> <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/seven-super-steps-to-safe-food-in-the-summer/">Seven Super Steps to Safe Food in the Summer</a>—While warmer weather conditions may be ideal for outdoor picnics and barbecues, it provides a perfect environment for bacteria and other pathogens in food to multiply rapidly and cause foodborne illness. These seven steps focus on reducing the risk of foodborne illness this summer <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/summer-without-salmonella/">Summer without Salmonella</a>—Help your shoppers TAKE ACTION this summer by educating them on how to reduce the risk of Salmonella. These flyers and postcards are available in English and Spanish. <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Grilling_Essentials_Flyer_PFSE1.jpg">Grilling Essential: Food Thermometers Flyer</a>—This flyer includes information on food temperatures and tips for using a food thermometer to help shoppers grill safe this summer. <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/food-safety-on-the-move1.pdf">Food Safety on the Move</a>—Food poisoning peaks during summer months, this flyer provides food safety information for families traveling this summer. The <a href="http://www.fightbac.gov/">Partnership for Food Safety Education</a> develops and promotes effective education programs to reduce foodborne illness risk for consumers. For more information about the Partnership for Food Safety Education or for additional food safety resources visit  <a href="http://www.fightbac.org/">www.fightbac.org</a>. Photo Credit: CDC

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.