Business phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Alaska
210 supermarkets and grocery stores operated in Alaska in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 210CBP 2023
- Employees
- 6,060mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 28.4U.S. 18.5
- State rank
- 45th of 51by count
Supermarkets and grocery stores in Alaska by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 210 establishments in Alaska classified as Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores (NAICS 445110) for 2023. They employed 6,060 people in mid-March and reported $211.1 million in annual payroll. That is the 45th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Supermarkets and grocery stores make up 0.95% of the 22,178 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Alaska has 28.4 supermarkets and grocery stores, 53.3% above the national rate of 18.5. The average establishment has 28.9 employees against 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $34,835, 16.8% above the U.S. figure of $29,817.
| Measure | Alaska | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 210 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,060 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $211,100,000 (moderate noise) | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 28.9 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $34,835 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 28.4 | 18.5 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Where supermarkets and grocery stores in Alaska are concentrated
Census published grocery store counts for 4 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Alaska. The largest is Anchorage, AK, with 35 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 26% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | 35 | 1,779 | 8.6 |
| Fairbanks, AK | 11 | 351 | 11.6 |
| Juneau, AK | 5 | 317 | 15.8 |
| Ketchikan, AK | 3 | 242 | 21.9 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at supermarkets and grocery stores in Alaska
15.7% of Alaska's supermarkets and grocery stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 32.9% nationally. 33.3% had fewer than ten. That is the size of team where a missed call usually means nobody was free, not that nobody was on staff.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 33 | 15.7% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 37 | 17.6% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 52 | 24.8% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 48 | 22.9% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 40 | 19.0% | 31.0% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a grocery store in Alaska has to catch
Independent grocers take calls about stock, deli and bakery orders, and departments need calls routed to them. Holiday orders bring call peaks.
Calls a grocery store in Alaska might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- A customer calls about hours.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly hours questions.
Callata voicemail is transcribed and triaged for urgency, and business-hours routing decides where calls go once you close.
Phone system pricing for a 29-person grocery store
Supermarkets and grocery stores in Alaska average 28.9 employees, so the comparison uses a 29-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 29 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $870.00 a month and 29 on Ooma Office Pro cost $723.55. On Callata the same 29 people cost $579.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $3,492. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $579.00 | $6,948.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $551.00 | $6,612.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $667.00 | $8,004.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $723.55 | $8,682.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $783.00 | $9,396.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $870.00 | $10,440.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Alaska
Alaska has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. You can choose local numbers in the area codes your customers know, subject to carrier inventory, or port your current number for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 907 | 657 | Alaska | 1957 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for supermarkets and grocery stores in Alaska
For $99 a month, Callata puts a team of up to 5 on one plan ($20 for each person after that): up to 3 local numbers, unlimited inbound calls, a pooled allowance of 1,500 outbound US and Canada minutes per user, browser and cell calling, voicemail transcription with urgency triage, recorded calls with AI summaries and business-hours routing, with E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Alaska, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are in Alaska?
210 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 6,060 people in mid-March.
Which Alaska metro area has the most supermarkets and grocery stores?
Anchorage, AK, with 35 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 29-person grocery store?
$870.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $723.55 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $579.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Alaska number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.