Helping Small to Medium Suppliers with their Food Safety Programs

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.

At Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) our mission and vision of protecting the food supply chain from farm to fork is again exemplified with the addition of our NEW SQF Food Safety Fundamentals programs.

By: Sarah Malenich, Director, Sales & Marketing, Safe Quality Food Institute <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/screen-shot-2018-05-03-at-8-58-01-pm.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=b960476e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="New Fundamentals" title="New Fundamentals" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px;" />At Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI) our mission and vision of protecting the food supply chain from farm to fork is again exemplified with the addition of our NEW SQF Food Safety Fundamentals programs. These four new codes are SQFI’s solution to GFSI’s Global Markets Programme. The goal of these new codes is to provide a stream line approach for GFSI certification for small and medium emerging businesses that will meet retailer needs. Our objective is also to facilitate market access locally, create mutual acceptance along the supply chain and provide a framework for mentoring smaller and medium sized businesses. Our NEW fundamentals program is divided up into two different categories with a step wise approach for process improvement, and the answer to the needs of retailers who want to give the smaller and medium sized suppliers who don’t have a lot of resources to implement the SQF Food Safety Program. The two difference categories are: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Basic-Fundamentals-Primary-Production-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank">SQF Basic Fundamentals – for Primary Production</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Basic-Fundamentals-Primary-Production-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Basic-Fundamentals-Manufacturing-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank">SQF Basic Fundamentals – for Manufacturing</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Basic-Fundamentals-Manufacturing-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Intermediate-Fundamentals-Primary-Production-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank">SQF Intermediate Fundamentals – for Primary Production</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Intermediate-Fundamentals-Primary-Production-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.sqfi.com/wp-content/uploads/SQF-Intermediate-Fundamentals-Manufacturing-final-draft.pdf" target="_blank">SQF Intermediate Fundamentals – for Manufacturing</a></li> </ul> SQFI is the only GFSI CPO that has developed programs for both the Primary Production and Manufacturing Industries.  We worked directly with retailers and suppliers on our NEW codes and now we would like you to give us your feedback as well. The public comment process is open until Midnight Eastern Standard Time on May 7, 2018.  <a href="https://www.sqfi.com/documents/" target="_blank">You can find the codes for review here.</a> Your feedback is essential to making this program a success! Please submit any feedback to <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>. Below you will find a quick explanation of our goals, approach and key changes to our NEW Fundamentals program: Goals <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Stream line approach for GFSI certification</li> <li>Minimize costs for the site by lowering the number of requirements to allow for shorter audit durations.</li> <li>Develop a code for small businesses that will meet retailer needs</li> <li>Create a mechanism for auditors to advance into additional FSCs</li> </ul> Approach <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Separate primary and manufacturing Codes</li> <li>Simplified requirements for each industry</li> <li>Step wise approach for continuous improvement and knowledge building</li> <li>Re-designed Part A of the code</li> <li>Adjust auditor requirements to aid in their FSC comprehension</li> </ul> Key Changes <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>Separated system elements for primary and manufacturing</li> <li>Deleted requirement for desk audit</li> <li>Removed Score (the audit is now just pass/not pass)</li> <li>Eliminated unannounced audits</li> <li>Simplified auditor requirements</li> <li>Simplified system elements and GAP/GMPs</li> </ul> If you are a smaller to medium supplier with limited resources to implement and sustain a successful SQF Program, and you would like to develop and place on the market trustful products while working to improve transparency of your own safety and quality requirements, then the SQF Fundamentals program is for you!

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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.