SafeMark®: Nearly 15 Years of Food Safety Retail Training and Counting

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.

Food safety is a very important issue for the success of the retail food industry and finding the training program that meets the unique aspects of the grocery industry is no small task. As the manager for SafeMark®, the only comprehensive food safety training and certification program created BY retailers, FOR retailers, I spend a lot of my time answering questions from trainers in food retail companies looking for a training system that checks off all their needs. Luckily for them, SafeMark® is the perfect fit.

By: Gwen Lee, Senior Manager, Food Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute <img style="float: right; margin: 10px;" title="Chicken Thermometer_faded" alt="Chicken Thermometer" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/chickenthermometer_faded.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=7a17b6e_1" /> Food safety is a very important for the success of the retail food industry and finding the right training program that meets the unique aspects of the grocery industry is no small task for your retail operations. As the program manager for <a href="https://www.fmi.org/safemark">SafeMark®</a>, the only comprehensive food safety training and certification program created BY retailers, FOR retailers, I spend a lot of my time answering questions from trainers in food retail companies who are looking for a training program that checks off all their needs. Luckily for them, SafeMark® is the perfect fit. SafeMark® has been training food retailers in food safety best practices for nearly 15 years. The training specifically focuses on retail counter operations, equipment and daily operations in food handling. More than 11,000 grocery stores use SafeMark® for manager training and certification and food handler training and tens of thousands of food managers have been certified using SafeMark® program. Impressively, a third of the top 75 food retailers use SafeMark® to train and certify their employees in food safety procedures. When I ask trainers why they choose SafeMark® they are clear—no other food safety training is geared toward the unique features and situations grocery stores face. Something I also hear a lot from trainers is how much they like the flexibility of SafeMark®. With both classroom and online training options, SafeMark® meets a company’s unique food safety training needs. The program also offer a SafeMark® food protection manager exam and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/safemark/ansi-food-handler">American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited certificate program for food handlers</a>. We’re constantly seeking to improve SafeMark® and this means both updating materials and incorporating the latest and most innovative training methods to promote behavior change. In fact, FDA will release an updated Food Code this year and we know how important it is to stay up-to-date with the latest food safety requirements. That’s why SafeMark® materials will be updated as soon as possible so the curriculum reflects best practices to meet regulatory requirements. In the meantime, all SafeMark® materials are updated to the current <a href="https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/RetailFoodProtection/FoodCode/ucm374275.htm">2013 FDA Food Code</a>. Check out <a href="https://www.fmi.org/safemark">FMI.org/SafeMark</a> to see our different training materials, certification options and more.

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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.