Brick and Mortar is Alive and Well

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.

According to FMI’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2018 report, brick and mortar grocery stores, the signature channel in the food industry, have stabilize their status despite consumers’ use of other channels. Trends claims, “Consumers do shop across channels and banners, but still recognize the supermarket’s central role in meeting and defining their grocery shopping needs.”

By Lucas Darnell, Director of Member Relations and Advocacy for Eastern U.S., Food Marketing Institute  <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/photos-for-staff-use/store-front/20161208-fmi-0873r-web.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=e8d16c6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="20161208-FMI-0873r-WEB" title="20161208-FMI-0873r-WEB" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> I previously blogged about <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2018/08/02/is-online-grocery-shopping-eroding-in-store-business">how food retailers see the emergence of online grocery shopping as a compliment to their in-store operations</a>, which represents the way our industry is contently evolving. It’s true we’re in a time where everything seems to change by the hour, but I believe a mainstay of the American household is still the grocery store. According to FMI’s <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2018</a> report, brick and mortar grocery stores, the signature channel in the food industry, have stabilize their status despite consumers’ use of other channels. Trends claims, “Consumers do shop across channels and banners, but still recognize the supermarket’s central role in meeting and defining their grocery shopping needs.” In addition, grocery spending and shopping trips remain steady. Shoppers report spending an average of $109 per week, which is consistent with years past. Despite in-roads made by online grocery shopping, the average shopper reports approximately 1.5 shopping trips to a brick-and-mortar grocery retailer per week. This is consistent with the trend of the past six years. In fact, those who shop online are actually taking more trips (1.6) to a brick-and-mortar grocery retailer per week.   Professionally, my job takes me across the eastern United States visiting FMI members and touring their stores. One week I might be in a small town in West Virginia where the local store is one of the main employers in town. The next week, I might be touring a new flagship store of one of our larger members. While the grocery world expands and offers more options, the data shows that the good ol’ grocery store is alive and well, and with all the hours I log in grocery stores I can attest to that being true.

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.