CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Birmingham, AL
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Birmingham, AL metro area: 187 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 49-person team.
- Establishments
- 187CBP 2023
- Employees
- 9,252mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 15.7U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 54th of 892areas by count
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are in Birmingham, AL?
County Business Patterns counts 187 supermarkets and grocery stores (NAICS 445110, Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores) in the Birmingham, AL metro area for 2023. They employed 9,252 people in mid-March and paid $252.0 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 54th out of 892 areas with published figures for supermarkets and grocery stores.
Measured against its 1.2 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 15.7 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 18.5, so Birmingham, AL is 15.3% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 49.5 employees, compared with 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $27,233, 8.7% below the national $29,817.
| Measure | Birmingham, AL | Alabama | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 187 | 782 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 9,252 (moderate noise) | 35,610 (moderate noise) | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $251,964,000 (moderate noise) | $953,906,000 (moderate noise) | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 49.5 | 45.5 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $27,233 | $26,788 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 15.7 | 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 Birmingham, AL
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in Birmingham, AL that had employees in March 2023, 20.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 32.1% had fewer than ten. 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 | 39 | 20.9% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 21 | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 22 | 11.8% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 36 | 19.3% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 69 | 36.9% | 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.
What supermarkets and grocery stores in Birmingham, AL 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 Birmingham, AL might handle in a typical week include:
- The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
Texting customers
Grocers text order-ready notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in Birmingham, AL have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Phone system pricing for a 49-person grocery store
The average grocery store in Birmingham, AL has 49.5 employees, so a 49-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 49 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $1,470.00 a month and 49 on Ooma Office Pro cost $1,222.55. Callata comes to $979.00 a month for 49 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $5,892 less than RingCentral for a grocery store in Birmingham, AL of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $979.00 | $11,748.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $931.00 | $11,172.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,127.00 | $13,524.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,222.55 | $14,670.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,323.00 | $15,876.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,470.00 | $17,640.00 |
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.
Local area codes for supermarkets and grocery stores in Birmingham, AL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 205 has the most, with 602 of 727 exchanges (83%). A local number lets customers in Birmingham, AL call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 | 602 | Central | 1947 | 659 |
| 659 | 121 | Central | 2019 | 205 |
| 334 | 4 | Central | 1995 | 483 |
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.
Setting up Callata for a grocery store in Birmingham, AL
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.
Porting a number you already use in Birmingham, AL 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.
Frequently asked questions
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are there in Birmingham, AL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 187 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Birmingham, AL metro area in 2023. They employed 9,252 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 49-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 49 users cost $1,470.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,222.55 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $979.00.
What area code should a grocery store in Birmingham, AL use?
Area code 205 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 659 and 334. 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.