UPDATE: As of NACS Show time, Ken Jennings was no longer available to speak at the event. The Friday keynote was scheduled to be given by Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes, best known as Jay and Silent Bob from the classic c-store-centric movie “Clerks."
Who is Ken Jennings?
Well, he’s been the host of long-running TV game show “Jeopardy!” since 2022, after a record-setting winning streak on the show nearly two decades prior.
But, in this case, he’s the answer to the question: This man will headline the 2025 NACS Show closing general session on October 17 in Chicago.
Convenience-store industry association NACS announced the headliner Tuesday, noting that Jennings will host a live convenience-retail related trivia contest with NACS Show attendees during his appearance.
Jennings’ interactive session will also offer some behind-the-scenes intel for “Jeopardy!” fans, NACS said.
The association said it would release details in the coming weeks on participant eligibility in Jennings’ live trivia segment.
A quiz bowl team captain in college, Jennings was working as a software engineer for a Salt Lake City health care staffing company in 2004 when he was accepted as a “Jeopardy!” contestant.
His initial appearance turned into a six-month, 74-episode stint on the show, in which he won $2.52 million, setting records for his longevity and cash prizes.
In 2020, he won a prime-time tournament against other “Jeopardy!” winners and was named the game’s “Greatest of All Time.”
Jennings has written 13 books.
The 2025 NACS Show, convenience retailing’s largest annual event, is scheduled for October 14-17 at Chicago’s McCormick Place convention center. It will feature four days of general sessions, 50 education sessions and a 430,000-square-foot expo, the association said.
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