CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area: 1,112 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 58-person team.
- Establishments
- 1,112CBP 2023
- Employees
- 64,283mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 14.3U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 8th of 892areas by count
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are in Houston, TX?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 1,112 establishments classified as Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores (NAICS 445110) in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. Together they reported 64,283 mid-March employees and $1.9 billion of payroll for the year. That ranks 8th of the 892 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 7.8 million residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 14.3 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people, 22.9% below the national rate of 18.5. Establishments average 57.8 employees, 29.6% above the U.S. average of 44.6. Payroll per employee comes to $29,565, in line with the national $29,817.
| Measure | Houston, TX | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 1,112 | 3,739 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 64,283 | 248,045 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $1,900,554,000 | $7,495,722,000 | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 57.8 | 66.3 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $29,565 | $30,219 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 14.3 | 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.
Team sizes at supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX that had employees in March 2023, 35.1% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 46.3% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 390 | 35.1% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 125 | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 94 | 8.5% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 167 | 15.0% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 336 | 30.2% | 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.
Why the phone matters for supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX
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 Houston, TX as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX:
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- A customer calls about a product in stock.
- A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
When nobody can pick up
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.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX
The average grocery store in Houston, TX has 57.8 employees, so a 58-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $1,447.10 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $1,740.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 58 people cost $1,159.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $6,972. 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 | $1,159.00 | $13,908.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,102.00 | $13,224.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,334.00 | $16,008.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,447.10 | $17,365.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,566.00 | $18,792.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,740.00 | $20,880.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Houston, TX
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 713 has the most, with 747 of 2,385 exchanges (31%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 713 | 747 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 832 | 547 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 281 | 393 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 346 | 382 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 936 | 144 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 979 | 100 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 409 | 71 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 806 | 1 | Central | 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.
What supermarkets and grocery stores in Houston, TX get with Callata
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in Houston, 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 Houston, TX?
Census County Business Patterns counted 1,112 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area in 2023. They employed 64,283 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 58-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 58 users cost $1,740.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,447.10 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,159.00.
What area code should a grocery store in Houston, TX use?
Area code 713 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 832 and 281. 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.