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Who We Are...

convenience_store.gifThe Oklahoma Wholesale Marketers Association (OWMA) is a statewide trade association that has represented the wholesale distributors of Oklahoma for 69 years.  More than 92 percent of the member wholesale houses are small, family-owned businesses serving their own and neighboring communities in Oklahoma and surrounding states.

In the early days of the association, wholesalers sold primary tobacco and candy products.  Today they are widely diversified, offering products such as:

  • Dry, refrigerated and frozen groceries  
  • Beverages
  • Snack foods
  • Institutional foods
  • Paper products
  • Health and beauty care products
  • Automotive products
  • Cleaning supplies 

Our customers include:

  • Oil retailers
  • Convenience stores
  • Drug stores 
  • Mass merchandisers
  • Gift shops
  • Liquor stores
  • Military installations
  • Airports
  • Schools
  • Campgrounds 
  • Service organizations
  • Government agencies
  • Hospitals
  • Nursing homes
  • Motels
  • Restaurants
What We Do...
  • tobacco.gifTobacco distributors act as tax collectors for the state of Oklahoma, affixing the tax stamps we purchase from the state to the packages of cigarettes and other tobacco products we sell to the retailer, thus collecting the excise tax for the state.

  • The Oklahoma Wholesale Marketers Association actively monitors legislation at the state capitol, primary focusing on business issues.

  • The OWMA is also involved in supporting efforts to prevent youth from purchasing tobacco products.
Association News
Week in Review: Legislature extends deadline, sine dies Wednesday
Sunday, May 31, 2009

Author:  Erin Boeckman 
Date:  05/27/2009

(OK) After the Senate spent approximately four hours at a standstill over a bill to create the position of a chief information officer on Friday, senators reconvened only to push back its scheduled sine die deadline. Senators returned to the Capitol to complete their work Tuesday and moved to sine die adjourn effective 10 a.m. Wednesday. The House considered legislation into the evening hours Friday, finishing its work without officially adjourning. Four members of the House returned on Wednesday to officially sine die adjourn effective at 10 a.m.

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Tobacco trust fund to fund adult stem cell research
Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Author:  William W. Savage III 
Date:  05/18/2009

(OK) The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund Board of Directors voted Monday to commit more than $5 million to pursuing investments in adult stem cell research.

The unanimous vote likely puts HJR 1035 to rest for now, the bill's House author said after hearing about the board's decision.

HJR 1035, by Rep. John Enns, R-Waukomis, and Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, proposes a constitutional amendment modifying appropriation limitations from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund. It directs that 10 percent of the fund is to be expended by the Legislature on adult stem cell research. In the Senate, the section calling a November 2009 special election was removed. In the Senate, the bill also was amended to allow the Oklahoma umbilical cord blood bank to be funded from the 10 percent of the fund.

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Governor, legislative leaders announce budget agreement
Saturday, May 16, 2009

Author:  Shawn Ashley 
Date:  05/15/2009

(OK) Gov. Brad Henry, House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee announced a budget agreement Friday that includes cuts for most state agencies, increases for a handful of others and standstill appropriations for some.

"Because of the uncertain economic conditions and projected decline in state revenues, this was a very challenging budget process that required many difficult decisions," Henry said in a press release. "With the help of stimulus funds, we were able to protect a number of priority areas, including education, health care, transportation and public safety, but we were also forced to cut many worthy agencies and programs in order to live within our means and balance the state budget. Obviously, we would have liked to do more to shield services from cutbacks, but the budget reality just would not allow it."

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