Add Value to Your Brand with the SQF Food Retail 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.

Shoppers maintain a high degree of trust and confidence in their grocery store to keep food safe. According FMI’s 2016 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends, nearly 9 in 10 shoppers having confidence in the safety of food at the grocery store. With trust comes responsibility--the responsibility to protect your customer and your brand.

By: Sarah Malenich, Director, Sales & Marketing, Safe Quality Food Institute, Ashley Eisenbeiser, MS, CFS, Director, Food and Product Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/sqf-retail-food-code.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=5c57736e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="SQF Retail Food Code" title="SQF Retail Food Code" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> Shoppers maintain a high degree of trust and confidence in their grocery store to keep food safe. According <a href="http://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">FMI’s 2016 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends</a>, nearly 9 in 10 shoppers having confidence in the safety of food at the grocery store. With trust comes responsibility--the responsibility to protect your customer and your brand. Recent foodborne outbreaks have demonstrated some of the consequences of a food safety crisis. Chipotle, for example, saw a 36 percent drop in there stock between July 2015 and July 2016 as a result of several foodborne outbreaks. And today, Chipotle’s stock is still valued at 36 percent less than it was in July 2015. Food safety incidents can have a lasting impact on a brand both financially as well as on consumer confidence. The <a href="http://www.sqfi.com/">Safe Quality Food Institute</a> recently announced the launch of <a href="http://www.sqfi.com/documents/?utm_source=Home%20Page%20graphic%20-%20Current%20Code%20Thumbnail&utm_medium=Web%20Graphic&utm_campaign=Home%20Page%20graphic%20-%20Current%20Code%20Thumbnail&utm_content=Home%20Page%20graphic%20-%20Current%20Code%20Thumbnail">edition 8 of the SQF Program</a>. With the release of edition 8, all areas of the food industry are now addressed—from primary production through the supply chain to consumers’ hands at their grocery store. The latest edition includes a new program for food retail. The SQF Food Retail certification program is the solution to safeguard your customers and your brand. Achieving certification will add value to your brand by demonstrating and communicating your company’s commitment to continuously improving and strengthening your food safety programs in order to produce safe, quality food; comply with the requirements of the SQF Code; and comply with applicable food legislation. Although the trends and conversation around food will change over the years, the need for safe food will always remain constant. The SQF Food Retail Program provides that constant assurance that food safety programs and best practices have been implemented to help protect customers. More information about the additional value the SQF Food Retail Certification Program provides is available <a href="http://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2017/02/03/unlocking-the-grocery-food-safety-code">here</a>. Edition 8 of the SQFI Program, including the Retail Food Code is available for downloaded at <a href="http://www.sqfi.com/">www.sqfi.com</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.