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Lexington’s Mobile Market shows growth; SNAP use up to 35% of transactions
Summary
Sierra Coleman reported the city’s Mobile Market — operated by God’s Pantry Food Bank with Kroger — has grown since 2023 and saw about $163,000 in sales in 2025 across 9,259 transactions; SNAP/EBT participation rose from ~31% to 35.24% of transactions between 2024 and 2025.
Sierra Coleman, Opportunity Officer in the mayor’s office, gave the committee an update on Lexington’s Mobile Market, a 60-foot grocery store on wheels that the city owns and that is operated by God’s Pantry Food Bank in partnership with Kroger. "The goal of the mobile market is to meet people where they are and to improve access to healthy food options in communities that need it most," Coleman said.
Coleman traced the program’s timeline from a 2020 Commission for Racial Justice and Equality recommendation through budget and procurement in 2022 and an operating agreement in 2023. She described a division of roles: LFUCG owns the vehicle and handles outreach and monitoring, God’s Pantry manages day-to-day logistics and route coordination, and Kroger stocks the vehicle and manages point-of-sale. The market began full operations in December 2023.
On performance metrics, Coleman reported that 2025 totals included roughly $163,000 in sales across 736 stops and 9,259 transactions (an average of $222.20 per stop) and a measurable increase in SNAP/EBT participation, from about 31% in 2024 to 35.24% in 2025. She said the market accepts credit and debit cards, EBT/SNAP and mobile payments but does not accept cash for staff safety reasons.
Committee members raised questions about accessibility and outreach. John Rupp of God’s Pantry explained that the trailer’s interior layout limits wheelchair access: "But if they have walkers, it will they can get on. But the wheelchair wheelchair bound folks, they will shop for them," and noted staff and volunteers can shop on a customer’s behalf. Coleman said routes and sites are selected using data tools and community feedback, concentrated in Districts 11 and 12, and that underperforming sites are removed.
Looking ahead, Coleman said staff are reviewing stop performance and exploring expanded uses such as weekend service and disaster-relief retrofits. She also said the schedule and stop calendar are published on the city and God’s Pantry websites and encouraged additional printed outreach for apartment complexes and residents less engaged on social media.
