What is Key To a Safe Food Supply? Collaboration.

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 Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) invited FMI to a meeting to develop data-driven goals for the Healthy People 2030 initiative, a national effort that sets objectives to improve the health and well-being of all people in the United States. This meeting brought together food safety professionals to support these Healthy People objectives in order to reduce infections caused by major foodborne pathogens, reduce severe allergic reactions and increase the proportion of consumers who follow key food safety practices.

By Adam Friedlander, MS, Manager, Food Safety and Technical Services, FMI <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/afdo.tmb-large-350-.png?sfvrsn=5cfe506e_2" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="mg-caption: Regulatory stakeholders and industry representatives provide final insights on making the food supply safer by 2030. Left to right: Michael Rogers (FDA), Caitlin Boon (FDA), Erik Mettler (FDA), Roberta Wagner (CBA), Beth Riess (Pew Charitable Trusts), Adam Friedlander (FMI), Denise Eblen (USDA) and Samuel Crowe (CDC). Photo Courtesy of AFDO. " title="AFDO" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />Selling safe and wholesome food is a top industry priority. To maintain consumer trust and protect public health, retailers can build stronger food safety coalitions that work toward preventing contamination throughout the supply chain.  The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) invited FMI to a meeting to develop data-driven goals for the <a href="https://www.healthypeople.gov/sites/default/files/2030_Advisory_Committee%20copy.pdf">Healthy People 2030</a> initiative, a national effort that sets objectives to improve the health and well-being of all people in the United States. This meeting brought together food safety professionals to support these Healthy People objectives in order to reduce infections caused by <a href="https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/food-safety/objectives">major foodborne pathogens</a>, reduce severe allergic reactions and increase the proportion of consumers who follow <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/keep-food-safe.html">key food safety practices</a>.  Stakeholders from public health and regulatory departments, consumer groups, academia and industry participated in numerous workshops to identify areas of shared food safety responsibility. It is through this shared responsibility that food safety professionals can coordinate strategies for reducing foodborne illness.  In a presentation titled, “Industry Led Intervention Strategies,” FMI highlighted the efforts food retailers are taking to protect public health. Participants learned how FMI resources: <ul> <li>Reduce <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/117509/download">food safety risk factors</a>. </li> <li>Strengthen <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fmi-cleaning-and-sanitation-guide-final-oct-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=2ede536e_0">cleaning and sanitation</a> practices.</li> <li>Improve food safety <a href="https://www.fmi.org/safemark">training and certification</a> programs.</li> <li>Reduce pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella contamination in <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety/leafy-greens-guide19_aug19.pdf">leafy greens.</a></li> <li>Mitigate <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fs16-fmi_listeria_2016.pdf?sfvrsn=2">Listeria</a>, <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/food-safety-best-practice-guides/norovirus-info-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=4">Norovirus</a>, and <a href="https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/food-safety-best-practice-guides/fmi_hepatitis-guide-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=74de536e_4">Hepatitis A</a> contamination.  </li> </ul> Over the next decade, food retailers will play an important role in achieving the 2030 Healthy People objectives to reduce foodborne illness. While <a href="https://www.fmi.org/blog/view/fmi-blog/2017/06/06/the-new-food-safety-testing-gold-standard-whole-genome-sequencing">technological advancements</a> are revolutionizing outbreak investigations and responses, sustaining strategic partnerships with regulators and consumers will be key to improving food safety behaviors and practices.     <a href="https://www.fmi.org/Feeds/www.fmi.org/SafeMark" class="button button--big">More Information On Advancing Food Safety Programs</a>

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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.