Unlocking the Grocery Food Safety Code

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.

The Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), a division of FMI, will soon launch its Retail/Wholesale Grocery Code, the newest certification program from SQFI. The program was developed to provide retailer and wholesaler organizations with the requirements to achieve accredited certification and creates a 365-degree uniform food safety management system across the retail and wholesale food industry.

By Robert Garfield, Chief Food Safety Assessment Officer & Senior Vice President, Safe Quality Food Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/produce-in-grocery-store.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Produce In Grocery Store" title="Produce In Grocery Store" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> The following article appeared in the January/February 2017 Edition of <a href="http://www.retailleader.com/">Retail Leader</a>. Consumer confidence remains high for the grocery industry, per FMI’s <a href="http://www.fmi.org/research-resources/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends</a> research, but the industry has witnessed some critical suggestions, not to mention an act of Congress (the Food Safety Modernization Act), that as the trend in foodservice and prepared foods grows at food retail, a truly farm-to-fork food safety approach is needed. Consumers have expectations that their local store offers verifiable proof that robust food safety control systems is in place, so food safety systems will in turn need to be properly validated and show evidence of continuous monitoring procedures. In line with these expectations, the <a href="http://www.sqfi.com/">Safe Quality Food Institute</a> (SQFI), a division of FMI, will soon launch its Retail/Wholesale Grocery Code, the newest certification program from SQFI. The program was developed to provide retailer and wholesaler organizations with the requirements to achieve accredited certification and creates a 365-degree uniform food safety management system across the retail and wholesale food industry.  The SQF Retail/Wholesale Grocery certification provides brand protection and an additional level of protection to consumers. Food safety is a culture that must be developed within a company, and like other disciplines, it must be managed. The benefit of this new comprehensive program is its continuity. All Retail/Wholesale Grocery activities of an organization are now covered by one SQF Program. What’s both unique and satisfying about the program is that the entire corporate office, brands, banners, franchises, stores – including all premises, support buildings, loading and unloading bays and external grounds – must be included in the scope of certification. Other reasons why the SQF Retail/Wholesale Grocery certification is important: <ul> <li>Requirements are in place for suppliers so retailers completes the food safety management loop;</li> <li>Provides increased stakeholder confidence in the company;</li> <li>Supports legislative and regulatory legal aspects;</li> <li>Encourages continuous improvement;</li> <li>Requires validating processes and systems;</li> <li>Connects the corporate policies to store practices;</li> <li>Allows retailer to have a true 3rd party audit system;</li> <li>Act as a high integrity independent 3rd party validation;</li> <li>Gives CEOs confidence with the internal systems and controls (sleep better at night);</li> <li>Ability to benchmark against other retailers’ performance; and</li> <li>Uniform food safety approach to systems and vocabulary across the farm-to-fork sector within the food industry.</li> </ul> This program and its attributes are also complementary to <a href="http://www.fmi.org/food-safety/safemark">SafeMark</a>®, FMI’s comprehensive food safety training program, to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Establishing a food safety system infrastructure that connects corporate policies to in-store practices demonstrates management’s commitment to food safety and creates a culture of food safety throughout the organization. With these partners, training and resources, the food value chain can continue to instill stakeholder confidence in the food supply. Note: SQFI’s Retail Program will launch in March 2017 in conjunction with edition 8 of its code.

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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.