How Consumer Trends Push Innovative Store Formats

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.

Evolving consumer behaviors are compelling retailers to explore innovative store formats, while also investing in new refrigeration technologies and energy resources. How do food retail professionals build a blended shopping experience based on traditional and technological expectations?

By: Natalie Etori, Manager, Marketing, Food Marketing Institute  <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/photos-for-staff-use/technology-images---give-photo-credit/spartannash/family-fare_betty-kaye's_digital-displays.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=e47e4a6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="mg-caption: Family Fare, Betty Kaye, Digital displays" title="Family Fare_Betty Kaye&#39;s_Digital displays" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />I remember driving in a snow storm to a newly built grocery store in my neighborhood just to see the automatic-light sensors in the freezer aisles. As I’ve gotten older, it’s become less about cool features in the aisles and more about how my grocery store helps me navigate my overall personalized purchasing needs. My grocery habits seem to compare to today’s consumer. <a href="http://www.fmi.org/grocerytrends">U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends</a> reports today’s households are eating in increasingly personalized ways as they pursue individual aspirations for eating well, which heightens the already basic challenges of food shopping.  Consequently, shoppers enter the store tasked with meeting not only their needs and wants, but those of others in their household. It’s now on food retailers to customize and humanize the in-store shopping experience in a way that empowers different shoppers to meet these different needs within the store. For example, this may take the form of in-store specialty sections on health and well-being or shelf tags that provide in-depth product information.  According to Trends, 91% of U.S. adults are regular food shoppers. They are responsible for at least some of their household’s grocery shopping and have shopped in the past two weeks. Changing patterns in consumers’ lifestyles have brought more consumers into food outlets in search of their ideal mix of foods and beverages. Additionally, younger shoppers want their stores to deliver an engaging experience on many fronts, including convenience and discovery. For stores, this means creating a balancing act between inviting shoppers to linger in the store and enabling them to move in and out as quickly as they want.  Evolving consumer behaviors are compelling retailers to explore innovative store formats, while also investing in new refrigeration technologies and energy resources. So, how do food retail professionals build a blended shopping experience based on traditional and technological expectations? At the 2019 Energy and Store Development Conference from September 8 – 11 in Dallas, TX, attendees can learn more during "<a href="https://www.fmi.org/energy-and-store-development-conference/schedule">The Challenging Future of Supermarkets</a>" session.  <a href="https://www.fmi.org/energy-and-store-development-conference" class="button-secondary">Learn more about the 2019 Energy and Store Development Conference</a>

Read full article on FMI

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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.