The Best Two-Way Radios for Grocery Stores
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your grocery store, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for grocery stores?
A customer at checkout is asking for a price check on an item... The cashier is stuck waiting. A line is building.
Meanwhile, in aisle 6, a spill has gone unnoticed for ten minutes—customers are walking around it, confused and annoyed...
In the back room, a delivery just arrived, but no one on the floor knows. Everyone’s working, but no one’s connected.
These are all common issues in a grocery store - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios....
Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your store, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small grocery stores, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger grocery stores (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
For unlimited coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for Grocery Stores:
Front-End Operations: Cashiers, customer service, and supervisors handle price checks, overrides, and line management.
Stock & Inventory Team: Backroom staff coordinate deliveries, restocks, and storage without interrupting sales floor traffic.
Floor Associates: Produce, deli, bakery, and meat departments stay connected for customer questions, stocking, and quick response to floor issues.
Management Channel: Managers communicate privately for high-level decisions, emergencies, or escalations without cluttering other channels.’
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great grocery store radio?
Clear Audio Quality: Loud environments need radios that cut through background noise so nobody has to repeat themselves.
Long Battery Life: A shift can run 8 hours or more—radios need to last without constant recharging or battery swaps.
Durability: Grocery stores are tough on gear—look for radios that can handle drops, spills, and daily wear.
Compact and Lightweight Design: Staff should be able to clip it on and forget it’s there until they need it. No bulky bricks.
Multiple Channels: So different departments (like front-end, deli, stockroom, and managers) can communicate without stepping on each other.
Hands-Free Options (VOX or Headsets): Helpful for stockers, cashiers, or deli workers who can’t always pick up a handset.
Privacy Codes: To reduce interference from nearby businesses using similar radios.
Easy-to-Use Interface: Staff turnover is real—radios should be simple enough for new employees to pick up and use without training manuals.
Good Range for Indoor Use: Especially in larger stores or those with thick walls, radios need strong indoor signal performance.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Grocery Stores
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for grocery stores of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Stores
You’ll want a compact and lightweight radio that is discreet and easy to carry. Offering modest power and 1 to a handful of channels, you will have enough groups to keep operations running smoothly.
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User-friendly with reliable coverage and extended battery life.
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The Motorola CLS1410 lives up to its name. CLS actually stands for Clear, Light, and Simple, and that’s what you’re getting with this device.
This is a UHF Radio with four channels (or this 1 channel version), which will allow you to divide your staff and give the managers their own private channel.
It has 15 floors of indoor range with up to two miles of clear communication outside.
This device features Audible Call Alerts and Vibracall technology.
It’s also an easy device to set up thanks to simplified cloning.
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Compact and powerful. Easy to use and great battery life.
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The Kenwood PKT300 would be a perfect radio for your grocery store if you...
- Work in an area less than 275,000 square feet
- Need to send a signal around steel and concrete
- Require hands-free operation
This is a UHF radio with six channels. You can segment your staff into six different groups for more effective communication.
The PKT300 pushes out sound with two watts of power and an outdoor range of up to two miles.
It also has an indoor range of 20 floors or up to 275,000 square feet.
You’re going to have power throughout the day. It also comes with a standing charging tray, a wall charger that plugs into power outlets, and a belt clip.
This is a radio that performs under harsh or stressful conditions with a strength of signal which easily gets around concrete and steel.
This is one easy-to-use, sturdy radio.
The VOX feature also allows you to operate the device hands-free.
Honorable Mention
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This is a MURS radio that does not require a FCC License.
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Larger Grocery Stores - Multiple Buildings
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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The Motorola Curve is another popular option...
This is a radio that will work well with a larger staff. It has 10 channels to choose from, making it ideal for a big store with multiple teams.
The Call Button compatibility can improve customer service with quick response times.
The Curve will also save you money in the long run. Because it operates on a digital band, you won't have to worry about paying any pesky FCC licensing fees.
While larger than the CLS series, this device is still lightweight at only 4.2 ounces. It covers up to 20 floors or 300,000 square feet of range.
When it comes to protecting confidential information, the Curve has you covered with Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology and 10,000 different privacy codes.
Another great and beneficial feature of this device is its Page All and Call All Available functions. This allows you to reach out to the entire staff at once, and it is ideal in an emergency.
On the other side of the coin, there is also a Direct Call feature that allows you to contact just one person with sensitive information.
This device is going to be able to handle even the longest shift with a 14-Hour battery life. That's all thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that it comes with.
This is another two-way radio that has an anti-microbial coating to curb the spread of bacteria.
Do you think that the Motorola Curve is right for your team? Contact us today for a free personalized quote.
Honorable Mention
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Ultra-slim, durable, and superior audio clarity for larger coverage needs.
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Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)
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Ideal for operations across multiple locations, cities or states.
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your grocery store – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!