Speaks 2019: Success Despite or Because of Challenges

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.

What did the 70th version of Speaks reveal? It paints the picture of a resilient industry continuing to address the diverse range of challenges confronting it. Some of the hurdles are old and familiar, such as growing interchange fees and rising health care costs. Some issues, like transportation challenges, are new. And some—such as the proliferation of competitors—have grown in intensity.

<p>By Leslie Sarasin, President and CEO, Food Marketing Institute<br /> <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/research-resources/speaks-report-cover-2019.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=257f546e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Speaks Report Cover 2019" title="Speaks Report Cover 2019" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p> <p>The year <em><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">The Food Retail Industry Speaks</a></em> made its inaugural appearance, Harry S. Truman was President, Rogers and Hammerstein’s <em>South Pacific</em> featuring <em>Some Enchanted Evening</em> opened on Broadway, and the world’s first jet airliner – the de Haviland Comet – made its maiden voyage in England. Much has changed since 1949 and FMI’s annual survey of U.S. food retailers and wholesalers has tracked it all, providing members with key inside-the-industry assessments of all the changes, developments and happenings in the noble world of food retailing.</p> <p>What did the 70<sup>th</sup> version of <em>Speaks</em> reveal? It paints the picture of a resilient industry continuing to address the diverse range of challenges confronting it. Some of the hurdles are old and familiar, such as growing interchange fees and rising health care costs. Some issues, like transportation challenges, are new. And some—such as the proliferation of competitors—have grown in intensity.</p> <p>Here are a few <em><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">Speaks</a> </em>related examples of how retailers are successfully adapting to the emerging new food landscape:</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Turning Costs into Gains</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Health care costs continue to rise, yet food retailers have managed to absorb increases and still produce positive financial outcomes and leverage health benefits as a means of successfully attracting and retaining employees.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Staying Ahead of Consumers</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Consumers are shaking things up as they shift buying behaviors, but retailers are embracing the changes in ways that advance their reputations for attributes such as health and well-being, personalized customer service and transparency.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Achieving Benefits from Disruption</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Technology is driving new in-store and online imperatives, and food retailers are responding by leveraging technology to improve productivity and customer experience.</p> <p>Reminiscent of the notion that the best way to predict the future is to shape it, <em><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">Speaks</a> </em>2019 discloses some of the ways food retailers are taking matters into their own hands, and adapting faster.</p> <p>Here are some of the biggest takeaways from this year’s <em><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">Speaks</a></em> survey of the food retail industry: </p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Well-being Viewed as Bigger Positive</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">The health and well-being proposition and the food as medicine trend continue to gain momentum as the two most powerful factors positively impacting sales and profits.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Solidifying Consumer Connections</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Food retailers are striving to engage more deeply with consumers, including through diverse promotional efforts, transparency initiatives, use of technology and community programs.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Proactive Approaches to Labor</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Labor issues, from upward wage pressure to challenges in recruiting and retaining employees, are affecting retail performance. Nevertheless, food retailers are navigating in ways that ensure business success, such as using compensation and benefits to ensure a steady supply of talent.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Fresh News About Fresh Success</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Fresh foods continue to drive product differentiation. A strong boost in success for categories such as produce, fresh prepared, and meat/poultry relays a highly positive story.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Technology Experimentation Advances</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Food retailers are moving forward with a range of ecommerce initiatives as they strive to enhance their online shopping sophistication and engage customers. In addition, they are using and experimenting with technology to improve the in-store experience and their operational efficiency.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Food Retailers Adapt for Success</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">The list of challenges facing retailers could fill a <em>Speaks </em>report all by itself. Nevertheless, this year’s data shows retailers are increasingly finding ways to succeed regardless of the landscape. They are adapting for success. While this trait is a differentiator for many retailers, over time it will become table stakes in this quickly changing environment.</p> <h5 style="margin-left: 40px;">Financial Improvements Overcome Pressures</h5> <p style="margin-left: 40px;">Food retailers are succeeding in enhancing key financial and operational benchmarks despite the increasingly challenging expense landscape.</p> <p>I hope you will join me for our<em> <a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/2019Speaks">The Food Retail Industry Speaks, What Are They Saying?</a> </em>webinar on October 3 at 2 p.m. as we delve deeper into <em><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks">Speaks</a> </em>2019 and explore the ways food retailers can take advantage of the key insights it contains.</p> <p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/food-retailing-industry-speaks" class="button-secondary">Download The Food Retail Industry Speaks</a></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.