Business phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas

Supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas by the numbers

The Census Bureau counted 459 supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 445110). They employed 19,383 people in mid-March and reported $480.8 million in annual payroll. That is the 32nd highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Supermarkets and grocery stores make up 0.65% of the 70,452 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Arkansas has 14.9 supermarkets and grocery stores, 19.7% below the national rate of 18.5. The average establishment has 42.2 employees against 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $24,807, 16.8% below the U.S. figure of $29,817.

Where supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas are concentrated

Census published grocery store counts for 19 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Arkansas. The largest is Memphis, TN-MS-AR, with 193 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 68% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas

20.3% of Arkansas's supermarkets and grocery stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 32.9% nationally. 30.1% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

What supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas use the phone for

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 Arkansas might handle in a typical week include:

• A supplier calls about a delivery.
• The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
• A customer calls about hours.

Texting customers

Grocers text order-ready notices.

Texting from a local number in Arkansas requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs a grocery store in Arkansas

Supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas average 42.2 employees, so the comparison uses a 42-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 42 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $1,260.00 a month and 42 on Ooma Office Pro cost $1,047.90. Callata comes to $839.00 a month for 42 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $5,052 less than RingCentral for a grocery store in Arkansas of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Arkansas

Arkansas has 4 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a grocery store can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for supermarkets and grocery stores in Arkansas

Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.

Porting a number you already use in Arkansas is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.