Business phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts

Supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts by the numbers

The Census Bureau counted 1,348 supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts in its 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 445110). They employed 86,775 people in mid-March and reported $2.6 billion in annual payroll. That is the 14th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Supermarkets and grocery stores make up 0.73% of the 183,767 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Massachusetts has 18.9 supermarkets and grocery stores, 2.1% above the national rate of 18.5. The average establishment has 64.4 employees against 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee is $29,532, in line with the U.S. figure of $29,817.

Where supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts are concentrated

Census published grocery store counts for 10 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Massachusetts. The largest is Boston, MA-NH, with 920 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 30% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts

36.1% of Massachusetts's supermarkets and grocery stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 32.9% nationally. 46.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

Why the phone matters for supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts

Independent grocers take calls about stock, deli and bakery orders, and departments need calls routed to them. Holiday orders bring call peaks.

Typical inbound and outbound calls for supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts:

• A customer calls to order a holiday platter from the deli.
• The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
• A supplier calls about a delivery.

Business texting for supermarkets and grocery stores

Grocers text order-ready notices.

Texting from a local number in Massachusetts requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

What a phone system costs a grocery store in Massachusetts

Supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts average 64.4 employees, so the comparison uses a 64-person team. Priced per seat, 64 users would run $1,920.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $1,596.80 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $1,279.00 a month for 64 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $7,692 less than RingCentral for a grocery store in Massachusetts of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has 9 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a grocery store can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for supermarkets and grocery stores in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts 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.