CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Lakeland, FL
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area: 106 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 45-person team.
- Establishments
- 106CBP 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 12.4U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 89th of 892areas by count
Supermarkets and grocery stores in Lakeland, FL by the numbers
There were 106 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 445110, Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores). That ranks 89th of the 892 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 853,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 12.4 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people, 32.8% below the national rate of 18.5.
| Measure | Lakeland, FL | Florida | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 106 | 3,850 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,344 (high noise) | 226,361 (high noise) | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $160,742,000 (high noise) | $6,440,624,000 (moderate noise) | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | — | — | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | — | — | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 12.4 | 16.5 | 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 Lakeland, FL
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in Lakeland, FL that had employees in March 2023, 30.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 38.1% had fewer than ten. 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 | 32 | 30.5% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 7.6% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 19 | 18.1% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 8 | 7.6% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 38 | 36.2% | 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 Lakeland, FL
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 Lakeland, FL as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to supermarkets and grocery stores in Lakeland, FL:
- The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
- A customer calls about hours.
- A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
After-hours calls
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.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for supermarkets and grocery stores in Lakeland, FL
Census did not publish a reliable employee count for supermarkets and grocery stores in Lakeland, FL, 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.
Getting a local number in Lakeland, FL
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 863 (301 exchanges in NANPA's file). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 863 | 301 | Eastern | 1999 | 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.
Setting up Callata for a grocery store in Lakeland, FL
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.
If you already have a number in Lakeland, FL, 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 Lakeland, FL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 106 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL 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 Lakeland, FL use?
Area code 863 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. 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.