CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in New Orleans, LA
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area: 233 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 36-person team.
- Establishments
- 233CBP 2023
- Employees
- 8,315mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 24.1U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 45th of 892areas by count
Supermarkets and grocery stores in New Orleans, LA by the numbers
There were 233 supermarkets and grocery stores in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 445110, Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores). Together they reported 8,315 mid-March employees and $226.0 million of payroll for the year. That ranks 45th of the 892 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 966,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 24.1 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people, 30.3% above the national rate of 18.5. Establishments average 35.7 employees, 20.0% below the U.S. average of 44.6. Payroll per employee comes to $27,175, 8.9% below the national $29,817.
| Measure | New Orleans, LA | Louisiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 233 | 886 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 8,315 | 37,262 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $225,957,000 | $940,936,000 | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 35.7 | 42.1 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $27,175 | $25,252 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 24.1 | 19.3 | 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 New Orleans, LA
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in New Orleans, LA that had employees in March 2023, 41.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 53.2% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 96 | 41.6% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 27 | 11.7% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 20 | 8.7% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 32 | 13.9% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 56 | 24.2% | 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.
Calls a grocery store in New Orleans, LA 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 New Orleans, LA might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls about hours.
- The store calls a customer when an order is ready.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
Calls after closing time
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 New Orleans, LA
The average grocery store in New Orleans, LA has 35.7 employees, so a 36-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 36 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $1,080.00 a month and 36 on Ooma Office Pro cost $898.20. On Callata the same 36 people cost $719.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $4,332. 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 | $719.00 | $8,628.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $684.00 | $8,208.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $828.00 | $9,936.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $898.20 | $10,778.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $972.00 | $11,664.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $1,080.00 | $12,960.00 |
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 New Orleans, LA
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 3 area codes. 504 has the most, with 533 of 544 exchanges (98%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 504 | 533 | Central | 1947 | none |
| 225 | 8 | Central | 1998 | none |
| 985 | 3 | Central | 2001 | 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 New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans, LA, 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 New Orleans, LA?
Census County Business Patterns counted 233 supermarkets and grocery stores in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area in 2023. They employed 8,315 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 36-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 36 users cost $1,080.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $898.20 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $719.00.
What area code should a grocery store in New Orleans, LA use?
Area code 504 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 225 and 985. 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.