Freedom of Information Act Wasn't Created to Shine a Light on Private Parties

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.

The nation’s grocery stores have long kept confidential the amount consumers spend at individual stores with cash, credit and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. To business owners large and small, this store-level sales data is undoubtedly confidential because its release would provide an unfair advantage to competitors.

<h6>The following opinion piece appeared in <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/21/supreme-court-foia-food-stamp-food-marketing-institute-editorials-debates/3535691002/" target="_blank">USA Today</a> on April 22, 2019.  </h6> <h5 style="text-align: center;"> Revealing store-level SNAP sales data will not illuminate the government’s activities: Opposing view</h5> By: Leslie G. Sarasin, President and CEO, Food Marketing Institute The nation’s grocery stores have long kept confidential the amount consumers spend at<img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/fmi-in-the-news.png?sfvrsn=f714b06f_0" data-displaymode="Original" alt="FMI in the news" title="FMI in the news" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> individual stores with cash, credit and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. To business owners large and small, this store-level sales data is undoubtedly confidential because its release would provide an unfair advantage to competitors. We have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the appropriate standard for exempting this data from public release — including whether the plain meaning of “confidential” should be applied or whether businesses must prove substantial competitive harm in every instance. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was created to shine a light on the government, not on private parties. Congress expressly exempted confidential commercial information from mandatory disclosure because that disclosure can harm private interests without adding much insight about the government’s own work. Revealing store-level SNAP sales data will not illuminate the government’s activities; it simply opens grocers to unfair competitive harm. The food retail industry has also worked diligently to mitigate any stigma associated with being a SNAP recipient and to protect these customers’ privacy. The Food Marketing Institute certainly supports transparency, including as it relates to SNAP. But the public already has access to a wealth of SNAP information, such as the total amount of SNAP dollars redeemed by month, by state, by county and even by store type. Importantly, this case is bigger than SNAP sales in grocery stores. The Supreme Court’s decision will provide valuable guidance regarding the government’s responsibility to protect private commercial data in the future. Congress understood and addressed that concern when it drafted FOIA to provide protection for private parties’ confidential information. We are simply asking the Supreme Court to apply the plain meaning of FOIA’s text.

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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.