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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.

Walking the aisles at the Summer Fancy Food Show, where FMI had a booth showcasing the SQF Food Safety Program and FMI Emerge for companies growing their grocery shelf presence, we picked up on five key trends to share with food retailers and FMI Members. We were impressed with the new food and beverage experiences and ideas going to market.

<div> <p>By: Julie Pryor, Director, Emerging Brands and&nbsp;Margaret Core, Vice President,&nbsp;Marketing and Industry Relations, Food Marketing Institute<br /> <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/summer-fancy-food-finds.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=a032566e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Summer Fancy Food Finds" title="Summer Fancy Food Finds" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p> <p>Walking the aisles at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.specialtyfood.com/shows-events/summer-fancy-food-show/">Summer Fancy Food Show</a>, where FMI had a booth showcasing the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sqfi.com/what-is-the-sqf-program/sqf-food-safety-program/">SQF Food Safety Program</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moreshelfspace.org/">FMI Emerge</a>&nbsp;for companies growing their grocery shelf presence, we picked up on five key trends to share with food retailers and FMI Members. We were impressed with the new food and beverage experiences and ideas going to market.</p> <h5>1. Heritage Flavors </h5> <p>Bold flavors of Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt are being reimagined for U.S. food markets. We found a whole host of companies offering new to the U.S. products to include <a href="http://yolelefoods.com/">Yolele Food</a> offering chips made from fonio, a West African grain. <a href="https://www.voltafoods.com/">Volta Foods</a> makes and sells food products inspired by West Africa to include Sheto, a popular condiment/hot sauce. <a href="https://hapiafricangourmet.com/WP/">Hapi African Gourmet&rsquo;s</a> founder is from Cameroon and has products including a peanut sauce and sunbutter which can be prepared with grains, veggies, root veggies, meat, poultry, seafood and bread. Ginjan is based on a thousand-year-old African recipe, cold pressed from pure and organic ginger, pineapple, lemon, vanilla and anise. The <a href="https://drinkginjan.com/">Ginjan Bros&rsquo;</a> are an early stage start up producing a line to be consumed cold, hot or mixed into cocktails. Another spice blend that captured our attention was <a href="https://www.momsmagicmasala.com/product/">Mom&rsquo;s Magic Masala All-Purpose Indian Fusion</a>.</p> <h5>2. Convenient Seafood</h5> <p>According to <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/store/ProductFormPublic/power-of-seafood-2019">FMI&rsquo;s <em>Power of Seafood 2019</em></a> report, only 21% of consumers are classified as frequent seafood eaters. There is an opportunity to expand seafood products offerings to meet in the shoppers seeking healthier, more sustainable sources of protein. Could seafood be the next snacking trend? We found more evidence of convenient, ready-to-go seafood on the show floor such as products from <a href="https://freshemeals.com/">Freshe,</a> <a href="https://www.wildplanetfoods.com/">Wild Planet</a>, <a href="https://lovethewild.com/">Love the Wild</a>, and <a href="http://www.seasonproducts.com/">Season Brand</a>.</p> <h5>3. Plant-based Items including Oat Milk, Pickles, Biltong and more</h5> <p>&ldquo;From dairy and meat alternatives to plant-based snacks, plants are not going anywhere, and I am excited to see what new forms they may take,&rdquo; said Melanie Zanoza Bartelme, global food analyst from Mintel. We found lots of products with a health benefit focus to include: </p> <ul> <li>Dry Riced Cauliflower, Brownie Mix, Hot Breakfast (like oatmeal), Flat Bread Mix, and more from <a href="https://ketoand.co/">Keto and Company</a>. </li> <li>Goldthread <a href="http://www.goldthreadherbs.com/">Plant Based Tonics</a>.</li> <li>Mushroom jerky from companies such as <a href="http://www.itsamushroom.com/">It&rsquo;s a Mushroom</a> and <a href="https://www.mushroomjerky.com/">Pan&rsquo;s Mushroom Jerky.</a></li> <li>Avocado Leaf Tea, full of antioxidants and nutrients such as flavonoids and polyphenols.</li> <li>Coconut + Ginger snacks from <a href="http://www.dulzurasnacks.com/">Dulzura</a>, <a href="https://www.blakesseedbased.com/">Blake&rsquo;s Seed Snacks</a> using seed-based products instead of nuts, foxnuts from <a href="https://roastfoods.com/">Roast Foods</a>, and <a href="https://secondbrainfoods.com/">Second Brain Foods</a>, snacks made from prebiotic grains like barley.</li> <li>Handy pickle snacks &ldquo;personal pickle packs, picked, pecked and ready to party&rdquo; from <a href="http://www.mcclures.com/">McClure&rsquo;s Pickles</a>, and hand-crafted, gourmet pickles from <a href="https://randyspickles.com/">Randy&rsquo;s Pickles</a>.</li> <li>Biltong: the unofficial national snack of South Africa with peri-peri and chili spices.</li> </ul> <p>Check out these brands and more at the <a href="https://www.specialtyfood.com/products/">Fancy Food Show product marketplace</a></p> <h5>4. Beverages and Waters</h5> <p>Functional and fruity beverages are in. We found <a href="http://www.drinkfentimans.com/">Fentiman&rsquo;s</a> sparkling raspberry beverage, another sparkler named Weyla with a blend of fruit, herbs and botanicals from <a href="http://www.renderfoods.com/">Render Foods</a>, and an organic and artisanal sparkling grapefruit limonadier crafted by French supplier, <a href="http://www.us.lorina.com/">Lorina</a>. Several beverages that caught our eye included <a href="https://www.honeydrop.com/">CBD Honey Drop Lemonade</a>, a probiotic from <a href="http://www.revivekombucha.com/">Revive Kombucha</a> with a refreshing fizz of sparkling water, <a href="https://www.fizzyfoxshrub.com/">Fizzy Fox&rsquo;s Sparkling Shrubs</a> made from apple cider, sparkling water and real, organic ingredients, and Fruit &amp; Birch water from <a href="http://www.drinktreo.com/">Treo</a>.</p> <h5>5. Emerging Brands</h5> <p>We are proud of the community that has joined <a href="http://www.moreshelfspace.org/">FMI Emerge</a> and were excited to see so many of them at the show. These brands are stretching distribution and growing on retail shelves. We hope you will <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/updated-emerge-sell-sheet_7-10-19.pdf?sfvrsn=b732566e_0" title="take a look at the brands">take a look at the brands</a>&nbsp;and reach out for samples and conversations.</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</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.

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OMEGA Members Receive a 3.4% discount

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