Coming Clean About Clean Labeling

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.

Our FMI Private Brand Council singled out the trend in clean eating due to consumer’s yearning for transparency, trust, authenticity and integrity in the food system. Still, we recognize that there are numerous inconsistencies relevant to the clean label phenomenon.

By: Doug Baker, Vice President, Private Brands & Technology, Food Marketing Institute <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/clean-label-consultation.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=a5a8786e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="clean label consultation" title="clean label consultation" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> Customization and personalization – these are two words that have become everyday vernacular in the food retail industry. Years ago, brand owners found that their customers were content with options, but now choice has expanded to require more intuition on behalf of the grocer. The nimbleness of our industry to observe a trend, and responsibly capitalize on it, is witnessed in every aisle. Gluten-free; low-carb and low–fat products; artisanal and culinary lines that relate to global palates; and seasonal produce that can be sourced all year are just a few examples of how food retailers respond to their customers. There now exists an opportunity to relate to shoppers’ desires for holistic health and offer solutions that meet their wellness lifestyle through the professed “clean eating” trends. Our FMI Private Brand Council singled out the trend in clean eating due to consumer’s yearning for transparency, trust, authenticity and integrity in the food system. Still, we recognize that there are numerous inconsistencies relevant to the clean label phenomenon: <ol> <li>The term lacks a uniform definition, but nevertheless retailers and suppliers are embracing it;</li> <li>Some consumers view these products as better-for-you, healthier and even safer than mainstream items, even though these views aren’t necessarily backed up by science;</li> <li>Consumers want added levels of transparency, but simpler lists of ingredients; and</li> <li>Different generations of consumers often seek different attributes in clean label.</li> </ol> Recognizing these challenges, we felt the need to get honest with our own approach to clean-label marketing and commissioned a white paper to illuminate the trend for brand owners. Our intention was to encourage the identification of best practices in this quickly evolving area and so we produced the paper with <a href="http://www.s4rb.com/">Solutions 4 Retail Brands (S4RB)</a>, a consulting-led software business focused on boosting private brand performance. As a guide, the white paper highlights new ways to connect shoppers with in-store resources, such as dietitians, fresh departments or recipes. As a brand, these connections can lead to greater trust by serving as a partner to navigate the latest eating craze. To download the paper, visit the resources section of the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/private-brands">private brands page at FMI.org.</a>

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.