Pharmacies in Bergen: Industry Overview and Outlook

Pharmacies in Bergen constitute a stable and growth-oriented sector with 54 registered companies in the municipality. In 2025, the industry had 593 employees and achieved sales growth of over 60% since 2016. EBITDA margins range between 6–7%, and the AS corporate structure dominates with 48 companies. The industry shows good resilience, with no bankruptcy registrations in recent years.

Sales Development

Sales for pharmacies in Bergen have grown from NOK 1,003 million in 2016 to NOK 1,625 million in 2025, with an average annual growth of 8.5%. A significant decline of 40.5% was recorded in 2017, but a recovery after 2020 with +15.5% in 2021 and +8.5% in 2025.

Workforce Development

The number of employees has varied between 478 and 667 during the period, with a growth of +12.5% from 2025 to 2026. A decline of 9.3% was recorded in 2018, but stabilization from 2021 with +10.3% in 2022 and +6.7% in 2023.

Key Players

The most well-known companies in the industry include:

• Apotek 1 Lagunen (Rådal) – 38 employees, NOK 78.6 million operating income
• Vitusapotek Bergen Storsenter – 35 employees, NOK 95.3 million operating income
• Apotek 1 Åsane (Ulset) – 27 employees, NOK 39.3 million operating income

Organizational Structure

The AS corporate structure dominates with 48 companies, collectively employing 687 people and generating NOK 1,464.8 million in operating income. There are no registered sole proprietorships or partnerships.

Distribution by Neighborhood

Bergen has the most activity with 17 companies, while Rådal and Fyllingsdalen follow with 4 companies each. The most promising areas for new entrants are:

• Bergen – 283 employees, NOK 595.8 million operating income
• Rådal – 63 employees, NOK 157.0 million operating income
• Fyllingsdalen – 54 employees, NOK 123.9 million operating income

Less Active Areas

Blomsterdalen and Fana have only one company each, while Indre Arna and Sandsli have very low operating income and few employees.

Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the 54 companies in the industry have been registered in bankruptcy over the past five years. This demonstrates a stable sector with a good debt structure and operating results. The average debt level is NOK 35.5 million per company, while equity stands at NOK 7.5 million.

Growth Outlook

The industry shows clear growth in both sales and number of employees, with an expected increase of +12.5% in employees from 2025 to 2026. EBITDA margins of 6–7% and high sales growth (8.5% annual) make the industry attractive for new entrants. Particularly promising areas are Bergen, Rådal, and Fyllingsdalen, with high operating income and good infrastructure.

Handicraft Sector Comparison

The handicraft sector in Bergen has 63 companies, showing that pharmacy is a smaller sub-sector. The handicraft sector had NOK 1,709 million in sales in 2025, while pharmacy had NOK 1,625 million. Peer companies in the handicraft sector include:

• Fugo Optikk As (NOK 18.0 million sales)
• Optiker Knudsen Bergen As (NOK 28.9 million sales)
• Synsam Bergen Åsane Storsenter (NOK 11.9 million sales)

Competitive Ability

Pharmacy has higher EBITDA margins (6–7%) compared to many handicraft actors, but fewer companies. This shows that the industry has potential for further development in Bergen.

Pharmacies in Bergen show clear growth and stability, with good operating results and high EBITDA margins. With 54 companies and 593 employees in 2025, the industry is well positioned for further development. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal locations in Bergen and areas such as Rådal and Fyllingsdalen, where there is good infrastructure and growth potential.