Presidential Hopeful Ted Cruz to Work in Casey’s Store

MANLY, Iowa — Presidential hopeful Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is getting ready to trade in banter with Donald Trump for conversations with convenience store customers.

Cruz will participate in the NACS In Store program on Jan. 8 from noon to 12:45 p.m., when he will be behind the counter at the Casey’s General Store location at 505 Highway 65 South in Manly. While at the store, Cruz will interact with members of the local community and have conversations about issues important to them.

“Convenience stores are the anchor of communities across the country, and they are also where community conversations take place,” said Henry Armour, NACS president and CEO. “More than half of the country visits a convenience store on a daily basis, whether to buy fuel, use the ATM, wash their cars or quickly buy snacks, drinks or meals. The NACS In Store program gives elected officials a perfect opportunity to experience how these stores serve the public in their home districts.”

More than 30 NACS In Store events have been completed with members of Congress. However, this event marks the first presidential candidate event of 2016.

Both Democrats and Republicans have received invites to participate in these events.

“We believe our elected officials will emerge with an even more intimate understanding not only of convenience store challenges, but also of their many contributions across the economic, social and cultural spectrum,” Armour said.  “And over time, convenience store owners and the customers and communities they serve should benefit from policies that spur further growth, prosperity and innovation in the sector.”

NACS, the Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing, has 2,100 retail and 1,600 supplier member companies, which do business in nearly 50 countries.