CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for supermarkets and grocery stores in New York, NY-NJ
Supermarkets and grocery stores in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area: 8,596 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 19-person team.
- Establishments
- 8,596CBP 2023
- Employees
- 164,591mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 43.1U.S. 18.5
- Rank
- 1st of 892areas by count
How many supermarkets and grocery stores are in New York, NY-NJ?
There were 8,596 supermarkets and grocery stores in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 445110, Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores). They employed 164,591 people in mid-March and paid $5.4 billion in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 1st out of 892 areas with published figures for supermarkets and grocery stores.
Measured against its 19.9 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 43.1 supermarkets and grocery stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 18.5, so New York, NY-NJ is 132.9% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 19.1 employees, compared with 44.6 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $32,701, 9.7% above the national $29,817.
| Measure | New York, NY-NJ | New York | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 8,596 | 8,320 | 62,947 |
| Mid-March employees | 164,591 | 176,258 | 2,808,118 |
| Annual payroll | $5,382,322,000 | $5,378,277,000 | $83,729,007,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 19.1 | 21.2 | 44.6 |
| Payroll per employee | $32,701 | $30,514 | $29,817 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 43.1 | 41.9 | 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 New York, NY-NJ
Of the supermarkets and grocery stores in New York, NY-NJ that had employees in March 2023, 64.4% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 32.9%). 74.7% 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 | 5,533 | 64.4% | 32.9% |
| 5–9 employees | 889 | 10.3% | 10.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 606 | 7.0% | 11.9% |
| 20–49 employees | 684 | 8.0% | 13.9% |
| 50 or more employees | 884 | 10.3% | 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 New York, NY-NJ
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 New York, NY-NJ as much as anywhere.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for supermarkets and grocery stores in New York, NY-NJ:
- A customer calls about hours.
- A supplier calls about a delivery.
- A customer calls about a product in stock.
Texting customers
Grocers text order-ready notices.
Texts sent from a local business number in New York, NY-NJ have to be registered with carriers first (10DLC); on Callata that is a one-time $49 fee, after which the whole team can text from the shared number.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for supermarkets and grocery stores in New York, NY-NJ
The average grocery store in New York, NY-NJ has 19.1 employees, so a 19-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 19 users would run $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $379.00 a month for 19 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,292 less than RingCentral for a grocery store in New York, NY-NJ 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 | $379.00 | $4,548.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $361.00 | $4,332.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $437.00 | $5,244.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $474.05 | $5,688.60 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $513.00 | $6,156.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $570.00 | $6,840.00 |
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.
Local area codes for supermarkets and grocery stores in New York, NY-NJ
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 201 has the most, with 761 of 3,908 exchanges (19%). A local number lets customers in New York, NY-NJ 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | 761 | Eastern | 1947 | 551 |
| 732 | 742 | Eastern | 1997 | 848 |
| 973 | 643 | Eastern | 1997 | 862 |
| 908 | 536 | Eastern | 1990 | none |
| 631 | 341 | Eastern | 1999 | 934 |
| 862 | 320 | Eastern | 2001 | 973 |
| 551 | 296 | Eastern | 2001 | 201 |
| 848 | 269 | Eastern | 2001 | 732 |
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 York, NY-NJ
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 New York, NY-NJ 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 New York, NY-NJ?
Census County Business Patterns counted 8,596 supermarkets and grocery stores in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area in 2023. They employed 164,591 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 19-person grocery store?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 19 users cost $570.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $474.05 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $379.00.
What area code should a grocery store in New York, NY-NJ use?
Area code 201 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 732 and 973. 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.