Online Grocery Delivery: A Commitment to Keep Food Safe

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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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.

As consumer demand to purchase groceries through e-commerce platforms increases, retailers and wholesalers must continue developing collaborative omnichannel models, with e-commerce experts, to improve operational efficiency, meet consumer demands and guarantee food safety.

By: Adam Friedlander, Specialist, Food Safety and Technical Services, Food Marketing Institute <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/ecommerce-food-safety.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=b82a476e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Ecommerce food safety" title="mg-caption: Adam Friedlander presents at Mid-Continental Association of Food and Drug Officials (MCAFDO) Annual Education Conference" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;" />Food retailers play a key role in protecting public health. In addition to complying with federal, state and local regulations, retailers must also develop strategic partnerships with all supply chain partners and store-level employees to ensure that food being sold to consumers will be free from biological, chemical or physical adulterants. As consumer demand to purchase groceries through e-commerce platforms increases, retailers and wholesalers must continue developing collaborative omnichannel models, with e-commerce experts, to improve operational efficiency, meet consumer demands and guarantee food safety. I recently spoke on a panel with Kroger and United Supermarkets looking at regulatory challenges regarding ecommerce in grocery.  My greatest takeaway from this panel is that retailers are committed to keeping food safe, regardless if products are sold through an e-commerce platform or brick-and-mortar location. Since online grocery delivery is a continuation of normal business operations, retailers must continue focusing on how to reduce the chances of spoilage and contamination once store employees or independent contractors begin shopping. This can be achieved through shopping and delivery protocols that keep food at safe storage temperatures, while preventing the likelihood of cross-contamination, food spoilage, allergen mislabeling and allergen cross-contact.   To prepare our retail members for online grocery delivery, FMI and the Nielson Company released “<a href="https://www.fmi.org/digital-shopper">The Digitally Engaged Food Shopper</a>,” a report that predicts online grocery delivery sales will reach $100 billion by 2025. This means that as many as 70 percent of U.S. consumers will regularly purchase consumer packaged goods online in the next 5-7 years, resulting in market saturation. Therefore, retailers recognize the social and economic implications of prioritizing food safety when developing comprehensive e-commerce platforms. Ultimately, the main goal for the grocery industry is to retain customers. By prioritizing food safety when developing e-commerce platforms, food retailers can continue their commitment to protecting public health. As online grocery delivery continues to mature, it is crucial to develop strategic partnerships with e-commerce expert organizations that ensure food safety. By sharing best practices and raising food safety awareness with all industry partners, grocers can create efficient, user-friendly and profitable e-commerce platforms that work toward keeping our food supply safer. For more information on how to properly train in-store employees or independent contractors on best food safety practices, visit fmi.org/SafeMark, or contact FMI at <a href="mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.</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.