Families Look to Grocers for Help with Easy, Nutritious Meals

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.

Despite these changes, one thing remains the same—families want to eat meals together. Seventy-one percent of parents say that ideally, they would like to eat dinner with their children every single night (Shopping for Health, FMI, 2016). Unfortunately, families succeed only half the time (U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2017, FMI).

By: Allison Febrey, Assistant, Health and Wellness/FMI Foundation/Food and Product Safety, Food Marketing Institute <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/family-meals/infographics/making-meals-easier.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=9a847f6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Making Meals Easier" title="Making Meals Easier" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> The American way of life continues to change at a very fast pace. It has become more difficult to juggle work, kids and friends with increasingly busy schedules. Despite these changes, one thing remains the same—families want to eat meals together. Seventy-one percent of parents say that ideally, they would like to eat dinner with their children every single night (<a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/shopping-for-health-2016">Shopping for Health, FMI, 2016</a>). Unfortunately, families succeed only half the time (<a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2017, FMI</a>). Families face many obstacles to dinner at home, including: <ul> <li>Differing schedules (55 percent);</li> <li>Too many distractions get in the way (21 percent); and</li> <li>Not enough time to prepare meals (21 percent).</li> </ul> The food retail industry knows how busy their consumers’ lives are and works hard every day to help shoppers select and prepare convenient, healthy, meals for their families. Consumers look to their grocery store for help—67 percent of households with kids outsource cooking meals to the grocery store, at least some of the time (<a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2017, FMI</a>). Some of the top ways that <a href="https://www.fmi.org/family-meals/our-mission/supporting-research">food retailers are helping customers achieve family meals</a> include: <ul> <li>100 percent of stores provide their customers with recipes; </li> <li>91 percent offer shoppers fresh prepared foods; and </li> <li>85 percent routinely stage cooking demonstrations.</li> </ul> (<a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/2017-report-on-retailer-contributions-to-health-wellness">2017 Retailer Contributions to Health and Wellness</a> and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">2016 The Food Retailing Industry Speaks</a>) In addition to the help they provide every day, the food retail industry is highlighting their family meal solutions during the month of September, <a href="http://www.fmifamilymeals.com/">National Family Meals Month™</a>. This celebration focuses on the importance of family mealtime as well as helping families achieve meals together. Here are a few examples of the creative ways that food retailers assisted customers in achieving more family meals in September of last year: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.hy-vee.com/">Hy-Vee, Inc.</a> offered cooking classes and easy pickup/delivery meal options.</li> <li><a href="http://www.baeslers.com/">Baesler’s Market</a> had pre-packaged kits containing meal ingredients and a recipe card.</li> <li><a href="http://www.hannaford.com/">Hannaford Supermarkets</a> featured end-caps and off-shelf signage featuring family-friendly and healthful recipe ideas.</li> </ul> You can find more by going to <a href="http://www.fmifamilymeals.com/">www.FMIFamilyMeals.com</a>. Our website has the toolkits, resources and ideas to get you started. Be sure to check out our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/family-meals/toolkits/best-practice-guide">Best Practice Guide</a> to see what retailers and suppliers have done in the past and our <a href="https://www.fmi.org/family-meals/toolkits">Retailer and Manufacturer Toolkits</a>. There is still time to take part in this year’s National Family Meals Month™ helping families share more meals together. Join the discussion on social media with #FamilyMealsMonth.

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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.