CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area: 24 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 45-person team.
- Establishments
- 24CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.7U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 299th of 892areas by count
Supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 24 establishments classified as Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores (NAICS 445110) in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area. That ranks 299th of the 892 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 206,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 11.7 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people, 37.1% below the national rate of 18.5.
| Measure | Auburn, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 24 | 782 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 1,489 (high noise) | 35,610 (moderate noise) | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $40,313,000 (high noise) | $953,906,000 (moderate noise) | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | 45.5 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | — | $26,788 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.7 | 15.2 | 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.
Team sizes at supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL that had employees in March 2023, 13.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 3 | 13.6% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 7 | 31.8% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 18.2% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 8 | 36.4% | 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 Auburn, AL 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. That holds for supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL as much as anywhere.
Calls a grocery store in Auburn, AL might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls about a product in stock.
- A customer calls about hours.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
When nobody can pick up
After-hours calls are mostly hours questions.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
Phone system pricing for a 45-person grocery store
Census did not publish a reliable employee count for supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL, so this comparison uses the U.S. average of 45 people per establishment. Priced per seat, 45 users would run $1,350.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,122.75 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 45 people cost $899.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $5,412. 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 | $899.00 | $10,788.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $855.00 | $10,260.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,035.00 | $12,420.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,122.75 | $13,473.00 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,215.00 | $14,580.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,350.00 | $16,200.00 |
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.
Which area code to use in Auburn, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 334 has the most, with 70 of 72 exchanges (97%). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 334 | 70 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
| 483 | 2 | Central | 2026 | 334 |
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.
What supermarkets and grocery stores in Auburn, AL get with Callata
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 Auburn, AL, 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 there in Auburn, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 24 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Auburn-Opelika, AL metro area in 2023.
What does a business phone system cost for a 45-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 45 users cost $1,350.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,122.75 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $899.00.
What area code should a grocery store in Auburn, AL use?
Area code 334 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 483. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a grocery store?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.