It’s Still Early in Food Retail’s Digital Ball Game

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

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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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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 a group of industry experts at Groceryshop 2018, if the ongoing digitization of food retail were a baseball game, the food retail industry is in the second inning.

<p>By: Doug Baker, Vice President, Industry Relations - Private Brands, Technology, Food Marketing Institute</p> <p><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/midwinter-conference/digital-technologyafb0090324aa67249237ff0000c12749.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=741a6e6e_2" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Digital technology" title="Digital technology" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />According to a group of industry experts at <a href="http://2018.shoptalk.com/grocerytalk">Groceryshop </a>2018, if the ongoing digitization of food retail were a baseball game, the food retail industry is in the second inning. </p> <p>With the game just underway, what is your company’s plan for bringing your food retail business into the Digital Information Age? </p> <p>That’s the question speakers sought to answer in the Groceryshop panel entitled “<a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/omnichannel/digital-shopper-imperatives">How to Use Data Effectively to Unify Digital and Store Experiences</a>,” which can be <a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/omnichannel/digital-shopper-imperatives">viewed in its entirety</a>.</p> <p>“We’ve all been hearing that online grocery is still a very tiny part of the total market,” said Philippe Bottine, CEO, North America, for SES-Imagotag, “but it’s expected to grow to 20 to 25 percent in the next few years or so.” So how do you get to that “20 to 25 percent”? There are several places you can start.</p> <h4><strong>Emphasize Values </strong></h4> <p>Linda Filler, former president, retail, of Walgreen’s, recommends focusing on a company’s most important values. For instance, if a retailer’s unique selling proposition is convenience, use digital tools to first improve the checkout experience. If it’s variety, make that the priority for your digital investments. And, of course, if it’s price - which it is for many retailers - start there.</p> <h4><strong>Increase Efficiency </strong></h4> <p>Enhanced automation allows companies to leverage labor. The knee-jerk reaction to labor reductions is to push the savings down to the bottom line, but what if food retailers were to teach those employees whose time has been freed up by technology to use it to engage more effectively with customers to drive sales?</p> <p>Removing friction from every process can only make a food retailer more competitive. For example, Mike Molitor, head of e-commerce and loyalty at Raley’s, spoke of the benefits of “rapid refinement pricing” that comes with electronic shopping labels, giving the retailer the ability to adjust prices almost instantaneously as market forces call for it.</p> <h4><strong>Digital Marketing Experiences</strong></h4> <p>Think about how much more “real estate” a food retailer would have available for promotions if they can convert shoppers from a paper platform (i.e., the weekly circular) to a digital platform?</p> <p>Adopt freely the best practices from other retail categories by using digital tools to create experiences for shoppers. It starts, of course, with an app that shoppers can engage with before they get to the store, while there and after they leave. But it could even involve something similar to the Red Robin restaurant chain’s loyalty program that includes a device at every table which allows customers not only to order and pay for their meals, but to entertain themselves and their children while they wait for their orders to arrive.</p> <h4><strong>Additional Resources:</strong></h4> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Download <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/finding-the-profitable-path-to-your-digitally-engaged-grocery-shoppers">Finding the Profitable Path to Your Digitally Engaged Grocery Shoppers Executive Workbook 2019</a> to determine if you are ready for the digital adoption pace.</li> <li>FMI session at <a href="https://www.fmi.org/industry-topics/omnichannel/digital-shopper-imperatives">Groceryshop</a> on how to use data effectively to unify digital and store experiences</li> <li>Nielsen FMI Digital Shopper <a href="https://www.fmi.org/digital-shopper/?utm_campaign=digitalshopper&utm_medium=digitalshopper&utm_source=FMIDailyLead">free digital assessment tool</a></li> </ul> <p> </p>

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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.