CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in College Station, TX
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the College Station-Bryan, TX metro area: 31 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 104-person team.
- Establishments
- 31CBP 2023
- Employees
- 3,214mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.8U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 245th of 892areas by count
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are in College Station, TX?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 31 establishments classified as Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores (NAICS 445110) in the College Station-Bryan, TX metro area. Together they reported 3,214 mid-March employees and $78.6 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 245th of the 892 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 287,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 10.8 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people, 41.7% below the national rate of 18.5. Establishments average 103.7 employees, 132.4% above the U.S. average of 44.6. Payroll per employee comes to $24,450, 18.0% below the national $29,817.
| Measure | College Station, TX | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 31 | 3,739 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 3,214 (moderate noise) | 248,045 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $78,583,000 (moderate noise) | $7,495,722,000 | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 103.7 | 66.3 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $24,450 | $30,219 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.8 | 11.9 | 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.
Establishment size: supermarkets and grocery stores in College Station, TX
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in College Station, TX that had employees in March 2023, 39.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). Small teams usually share the phone: the person who answers is often also serving a customer or doing the job, which is when calls get missed.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 9 | 39.1% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | not published | — | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 17.4% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 26.1% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 4 | 17.4% | 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 College Station, TX 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 College Station, TX might handle in a typical week include:
- The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
- A customer calls about hours.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly hours questions.
Callata transcribes voicemail and triages it for urgency, so the first callback in the morning can go to the caller who needs it most.
What a phone system costs a grocery store in College Station, TX
The average grocery store in College Station, TX has 103.7 employees, so a 104-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 104 users would run $3,120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $2,594.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 104 people cost $2,079.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $12,492. 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 | $2,079.00 | $24,948.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,976.00 | $23,712.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $2,392.00 | $28,704.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $2,594.80 | $31,137.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $2,808.00 | $33,696.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $3,120.00 | $37,440.00 |
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.
Local area codes for supermarkets and grocery stores in College Station, TX
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 979 has the most, with 117 of 121 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 979 | 117 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 254 | 4 | Central | 1997 | 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
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 College Station, TX, 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 College Station, TX?
Census County Business Patterns counted 31 supermarkets and grocery stores in the College Station-Bryan, TX metro area in 2023. They employed 3,214 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 104-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 104 users cost $3,120.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $2,594.80 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $2,079.00.
What area code should a grocery store in College Station, TX use?
Area code 979 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 254. 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.