Retail Food Safety Professional – The Wearer of Many Hats - OMEGA - West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association

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.

In honor of International Food Professionals’ Day, today we salute the retail food safety professional who works tirelessly to ensure the food sold to customers is safe.

By Ashley Eisenbeiser, MS, CFS, Director, Food and Product Safety Programs, Food Marketing Institute <a><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/photos-for-staff-use/food-safety/20171205-fmi-store-shoot-0689_ed.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=c9c0786e_2" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="20171205-FMI-Store Shoot-0689_ed" title="20171205-FMI-Store Shoot-0689_ed" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />In honor of </a><a href="http://internationalfoodprofessionalsday.com/">International Food Professionals’ Day</a>, today we salute the retail food safety professional who works tirelessly to ensure the food sold to customers is safe.  Food is essential. It is necessary for life.  Every celebration, holiday and major event is centered around food--Wings for the super bowl, Ham for Easter, Turkey for Thanksgiving, Roast for Christmas, Sandwiches and Chips for school lunches, Burgers for a summer cookout, Cakes for Birthdays—you name the occasion and there is food. Beyond its necessity, food is essential for community and bringing people together.  Food retailers play an integral part of providing food to their communities. Many employees, from various departments, including from purchasing, operations, consumer affairs, government relations, food safety, quality, supply chain, finance, are involved in the process of getting food to customers. The job of a retail food safety professional may not sound like the most glamourous job but it is vital to ensuring that the food sold in the stores is safe.   Since starting at FMI, I have come to learn more about this profession. The retail food safety professional is a wearer of many hats. Their responsibility spans across many aspects of a retail operation and their knowledge goes beyond food safety and has a community like no other. They are committed to advancing food safety and they share a common goal of protecting their customers and their brands. The non-competitive nature of food safety allows retail food safety professionals to openly share best practices. Many food safety professionals from FMI member companies participate on <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/food-safety">FMI’s Food Protection Committee (FPC)</a>. FPC members meet on a regular basis to discuss food safety issues of public health significance and through collaboration develop resources, best practices, and food safety programs to enhance the industry's understanding of these issues. For more information about FMI Food Safety or FMI’s Food Protection Committee, visit: <a href="http://www.fmi.org/foodsafety">www.fmi.org/foodsafety</a> or contact us at <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>.   <div> </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.