If We Had a Crystal Ball … What Could Grocery Shopping Look Like in the Future?

Promoting and Advancing Petroleum Marketing, Retail Grocery, and Convenience Stores in West Virginia

Driving Local Business and Community Growth Across West Virginia

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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.

Even in the best of times, most of us would like the ability to take a peek into the future. However, during these unprecedented times, the desire to know what is going to happen next increases dramatically. Since March 21, 2020, FMI has been conducting online surveys to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the behaviors of grocery shopper. The results have provided insights into how grocery shoppers have and continue to modify their grocery shopping behavior.

By Steve Markenson, Director, Research, FMI <img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/trends-covid-inforgraphic-instagram-4.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=87fb55de_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Trends COVID Inforgraphic " title="Trends COVID Inforgraphic Instagram 4" data-openoriginalimageonclick="true" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /> Even in the best of times, most of us would like the ability to take a peek into the future. However, during these unprecedented times, the desire to know what is going to happen next increases dramatically. Since March 21, 2020, FMI has been <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends">conducting online surveys</a> to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the behaviors of grocery shopper. The results have provided insights into how grocery shoppers have and continue to modify their grocery shopping behavior. <h5>Asking consumers to look into their crystal ball</h5> In our most recent survey, we asked consumers to imagine a future when their community is able to be far less concerned about the coronavirus, and businesses are able to resume normal hours and practices. With this in mind, we asked shoppers to consider their pre-COVID-19 shopping patterns and speculate about what pandemic-driven shopping habits they expected to retain. Here are some of the results: <ul> <li>Online: A majority of consumers expect they will return to their pre-pandemic levels of ordering groceries online for delivery (57%) or pickup (59%). While some (27% for delivery, 24% for pickup) say they expect to be ordering more groceries online in the future, there are almost as many saying they expect to order less groceries online (16%, 18%). </li> <li>In-Store: Similar to online, most consumers (50%) expect they will return to their pre-pandemic levels of in-store grocery shopping. The remaining consumers are almost equally divided between shopping more (28%) and shopping less (22%) in-store for groceries in the future.</li> </ul> Given the number of unpredictable variables still in play – anticipating exactly what the future will look like is impossible, but one piece of data we can gather is how grocery shoppers anticipate they will behave in different scenarios. That at least connects some of the edge pieces together and establishes the beginning framework of the 1,000-piece puzzle we have yet to put together. FMI will be continuing to track shopper expectations and behaviors over the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more insights from the shoppers’ perspective. <a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/research-reports/u-s-grocery-shopper-trends" class="button">U.S. Grocery Shoppers Trends COVID-19 Tracker</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.