Exercising Research in 2018

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.

This exercise was easy to do because FMI produces a rich collection of research on consumer trends and food retail operations—a total of 14 reports in 2018. As the voice of food retail, FMI strives to keep the food retail industry abreast of trends and ahead of the issues in this time of much disruption.

<p dir="ltr">By Sue Wilkinson, Senior Director, Information Service & Research, Food Marketing Institute<img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/research.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=a01d4d6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Research" title="Research" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> </p> <p dir="ltr">Recently, a Millennial colleague was curious as to whether her food shopping habits were more in line with her age group, or if she could claim food shopping behaviors of other generations.  Using data from FMI’s <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends</a> report, she determined that she is a 25 -year-old-grocery shopping Baby Boomer!  Her discovery is documented in a <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2018/09/25/i'm-a-25-year-old-grocery-shopping-boomer">blog post</a> that includes a flow chart so that you, too, can discover which generation’s shopping habits you most closely mirror. </p> <p dir="ltr">This exercise was easy to do because FMI produces a rich collection of research on consumer trends and food retail operations—a total of 14 reports in 2018. As the voice of food retail, FMI strives to keep the food retail industry abreast of trends  and ahead of the issues in this time of much disruption. </p> <h5 dir="ltr">Cardio Day</h5> <p dir="ltr">As the customer is the heart of food retail operations, FMI research examined <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">shoppers’ grocery shopping habits</a> in general, but then specifically explored shopping behaviors in various fresh departments including <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-meat-2018">meat</a> and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-foodservice-at-retail-2018-part-2">foodservice/deli</a>. We scrutinized the inclination toward <a href="https://www.fmi.org/digital-shopper">shopping online,</a> why customers buy <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-private-brands-part-one-from-the-consumer">private brands</a>, what makes them<a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/next-generation-loyalty-get-it-right-in-food-retail-part-1-the-state-of-shopper-loyalty"> loyal shoppers</a>, the consumer demand for <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/the-transparency-imperative-product-labeling-from-the-consumer-perspective">transparent labels</a>, and their shifting approaches to <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-health-and-well-being-in-food-retail">health and well-being</a>.</p> <h5 dir="ltr">Weight Training</h5> <p dir="ltr">On the operations side, FMI released the 68th annual edition of the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">Food Retailing Industry Speaks</a> report, which provides an analysis of financial performance, operational and store-level benchmarks as well as strategic and competitive insights. Additional operations topics explored in 2018 include how retailers can better leverage <a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/general-merchandise-health-beauty-care">GM/HBC</a> categories to attract shoppers; how food retailers can successfully <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/next-generation-loyalty-get-it-right-in-food-retail-part-2-loyalty-in-3d">earn customer loyalty</a>; and how the grocery industry can improve its <a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/private-brands">private brand</a> business. </p> <h5 dir="ltr">Five-minute Abs</h5> <p dir="ltr">Understanding that FMI offers an overwhelming amount of data about the consumer and food retail operations, a concerted effort is made to offer research findings in digestible portions because not everyone has the time to read the full report. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/FMIorg">Short videos</a>, <a href="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/communications/2018fmifoodservicepartiirelease.png?sfvrsn=9bd6456e_2">infographics</a>, <a href="https://www.fmi.org/groceryrevolution/?utm_source=fmi-research-web&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=groceryrevolution">website portals</a>, <a href="https://www.fmi.org/events-education/webinars/webinar-recordings">webinars</a>, and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog">blog posts</a> are some of the ways to learn more about FMI research findings. In addition, the <a href="http://prestohost23.inmagic.com/Presto/home/home.aspx">Information Service</a> is a resource that can help members uncover facts, figures and analysis from FMI research reports and other industry resources. </p> <h5 dir="ltr">Homestretch</h5> <p dir="ltr">FMI research is free to members.  Explore the findings from this year’s 14 research reports in whatever way works best for you to learn about your shoppers—perhaps your Millennial shoppers are shopping more like Baby Boomers— and use the operations data to gain strategic and competitive insights and benchmark your company’s productivity. </p> <div><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports" class="button-secondary">See FMI's Research</a></div>

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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.