Industry · municipality
Pharmacies in Arendal: Industry Overview and Outlook
Analysis of the pharmacy industry in Arendal with a focus on companies, economy, and development trends in the Agder municipality, Norway.
Brief overview of the pharmacy industry in Arendal
Pharmacies in Arendal form an important part of the municipality's economy, with 16 registered companies in 2026. The industry has shown variable development over the years, with a significant sales decline of 99.2% from 2025 to 2026, which may be due to abnormally high or low values in the last year. Nevertheless, the number of employees increased by 23.8% from 2025 to 2026, indicating stronger organizational adaptation. The industry has a high share of AS companies (16 companies), and there are no registered bankruptcies among the reported companies, except for a few extreme cases such as Nedenes Apotek As and Apotek 1 Bjorbekk As.
Economic overview of the pharmacy industry
Sales and employees in the pharmacy industry in Arendal have shown fluctuations over the years. Sales decreased by 29.6% from 2016 to 2017, but increased by 55.0% from 2017 to 2018. The most dramatic change was recorded from 2025 to 2026, where sales fell by 99.2%. The number of employees had stable development, with an increase of 19.8% from 2021 to 2022 and a decrease of 5.3% from 2022 to 2023. In 2026, the industry had 122 employees, an increase of 23.8% compared to 2025.
Companies in the pharmacy industry
In Arendal, 16 companies are registered in the pharmacy industry, all with the organizational form AS. The main companies include Vitusapotek Arendal, Boots Apotek Harebakken, and Apotek 1 Harebakken. Most companies have a positive operating result, except for Apotek 1 Bjorbekk As, which had a negative operating result of -14.0K NOK in 2026. There are no registered bankruptcies among the companies, except for Nedenes Apotek As and Apotek 1 Bjorbekk As, which have reported zero sales and operating results.
Distribution of pharmacy activity in Arendal
Pharmacy activity in Arendal is distributed across several areas:
- Arendal: 11 companies, 115 employees, sales of 224.4M NOK
- Nedenes: 1 company, 14 employees, zero sales
- Færvik: 1 company, 10 employees, sales of 11.8M NOK
- Bjorbekk: 1 company, 9 employees, sales of 2.8M NOK
- Saltrød: 1 company, 7 employees, sales of 21.6M NOK
- His: 1 company, 6 employees, zero sales
The most actively operated areas are Arendal and Færvik, with high sales values and stable operating results.
Operational efficiency and dynamics in the industry
The pharmacy industry in Arendal has proven to be relatively stable, with only two companies reporting bankruptcy or zero sales (Nedenes Apotek As and Apotek 1 Bjorbekk As). Most companies have a positive operating result and high EBITDA margins, especially in Arendal and Færvik. Sales growth has been positive in most years, except for 2026, which had an extreme decline. This may indicate abnormally high or low values in the last year.
Outlook for entrepreneurs in the pharmacy industry
For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the pharmacy industry in Arendal, it is important to note both the opportunities and challenges. The industry has proven to be operationally efficient with high EBITDA margins (5-7%) and stable growth in most years. However, there is an important risk associated with extreme sales changes, such as the dramatic decline from 2025 to 2026. Competition is strong, with 16 companies in the municipality, and it is important to focus on differentiation and quality to ensure profitability.
Outlook for the crafts group compared to pharmacies
When compared to the broader crafts group (crafts) in Arendal, the pharmacy industry shows a slightly different development. The crafts group had 24 companies in 2026, while the pharmacy industry had 20. Sales in the crafts group decreased by 95.5% from 2025 to 2026, which is more extreme than in the pharmacy industry. Peer companies in the crafts group include Synsam Arendal (sales of 7.4M NOK) and Brilleland Avd 468 Arendal (sales of 15.3M NOK), representing other types of business activity than pharmacies.
Other companies in håndverk (not in pharmacy)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synsam Arendal | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Peder Thomassons gate 12, 4836 Arendal | NOK 7.4M | 7 | NOK 1.4M |
| Brilleland Avd 468 Arendal | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Vesterveien 4, 4836 Arendal | NOK 15.3M | 11 | NOK 1.1M |
| Arendal Specsavers As | medical/orthopaedic goods store | c/o Amfi Arena|Vesterveien 4, 4836 Arendal | NOK 15.0M | 13 | NOK 90.0K |
| Corneliussen Optikk Arendal As | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Havnegaten 2, 4836 Arendal | NOK 0 | 5 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion and future perspective
The pharmacy industry in Arendal has proven to be operationally efficient with high EBITDA margins and stable growth in most years. However, it is important to be aware of extreme sales changes, such as the dramatic decline from 2025 to 2026. Competition is strong, and it is important to focus on differentiation and quality to ensure profitability. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Arendal for pharmacies, based on natural conditions and market potential.