CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Little Rock, AR
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area: 85 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 54-person team.
- Establishments
- 85CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,567mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.0U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 110th of 892areas by count
Supermarkets and grocery stores in Little Rock, AR by the numbers
There were 85 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 445110, Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores). They employed 4,567 people in mid-March and paid $130.1 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 110th out of 892 areas with published figures for supermarkets and grocery stores.
Measured against its 769,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 11.0 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 18.5, so Little Rock, AR is 40.3% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 53.7 employees, compared with 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $28,489, 4.5% below the national $29,817.
| Measure | Little Rock, AR | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 85 | 459 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,567 (moderate noise) | 19,383 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $130,111,000 (moderate noise) | $480,834,000 | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 53.7 | 42.2 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $28,489 | $24,807 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.0 | 14.9 | 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 Little Rock, AR
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in Little Rock, AR that had employees in March 2023, 22.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 32.9% 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 | 19 | 22.4% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 9 | 10.6% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 4 | 4.7% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 10 | 11.8% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 43 | 50.6% | 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 Little Rock, AR 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.
A few of the calls that come in to supermarkets and grocery stores in Little Rock, AR:
- A customer calls about hours.
- A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
- The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
Business texting for supermarkets and grocery stores
Grocers text order-ready notices.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
What a phone system costs a grocery store in Little Rock, AR
The average grocery store in Little Rock, AR has 53.7 employees, so a 54-person team is a reasonable benchmark. On a per-user plan that headcount sets the bill: $1,347.30 a month on Ooma Office Pro or $1,620.00 on RingCentral RingEX Core at list price (checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,079.00 a month for 54 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $6,492 less than RingCentral for a grocery store in Little Rock, AR 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 | $1,079.00 | $12,948.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $1,026.00 | $12,312.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $1,242.00 | $14,904.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $1,347.30 | $16,167.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $1,458.00 | $17,496.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,620.00 | $19,440.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in Little Rock, AR
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 501 has the most, with 386 of 395 exchanges (98%). A local number lets customers in Little Rock, AR 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 386 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 870 | 9 | Central | 1997 | 327 |
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
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.
Porting a number you already use in Little Rock, AR 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 Little Rock, AR?
Census County Business Patterns counted 85 supermarkets and grocery stores in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR metro area in 2023. They employed 4,567 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 54-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 54 users cost $1,620.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,347.30 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $1,079.00.
What area code should a grocery store in Little Rock, AR use?
Area code 501 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 870. 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.