Industry · municipality
Pharmacies in Bodø: Industry Analysis, Companies, and Outlook
A detailed overview of the pharmacy industry in Bodø, Nordland, focusing on economics, companies, and future opportunities for entrepreneurs and local decision-makers in 2026–2027.
Executive Summary
Pharmacy is a vital industry in Bodø, with 10 registered companies and a total of 117 employees as of 2026. The sector has shown resilience despite fluctuations, with sales revenue reaching NOK 300.2M in 2025, a 19.7% increase from 2024. Key players include Apotek 1 and Vitusapotek, operating across Bodø and Tverlandet. While most companies are structured as AS (Aktieselskap), there is also a notable presence of ENK (Enkeltmannsforetak), such as Qalba Consulting. The industry demonstrates strong growth potential, particularly in the 2025–2026 period, though challenges like uneven sales performance and localized concentration in Bodø remain.
Economic Overview
Sales Development (2016–2025):
- 2016: NOK 204.1M
- 2025: NOK 300.2M (+47.1% total)
- Annual Growth: 19.7% (2024→2025)
Employee Development (2016–2026):
- 2016: 116 employees
- 2026: 117 employees (+0.9% total)
- Annual Growth: 6.4% (2025→2026)
The industry has experienced significant volatility, with a 63.3% drop in sales from 2016 to 2017, followed by a 190.2% rebound in 2018. Employee numbers have fluctuated but show a slight upward trend since 2022. The 2025–2026 period marks a notable recovery, with sales and employment both increasing.



Companies in the Industry
Top 10 Companies in the Pharmacy Industry in Bodø (2026):
| Name | Address | Number of Employees | EBITDA | Organizational Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apotek 1 City Nord | Stormyrveien 20 | 40 | NOK 5.7M | AS |
| Apotek 1 Tordenskiold | Storgata 32 | 16 | NOK 2.8M | AS |
| Vitusapotek Hundstadsenteret | Bodøveien 674 | 11 | NOK 2.2M | AS |
| Apotek 1 Mørkved | Mørkvedsentret 17 | 10 | NOK 1.4M | AS |
| Boots Apotek Bodø | Storgata 5A | 10 | NOK 361.2K | AS |
| Vitusapotek Glasshuset | Storgata 12 | 9 | NOK 1.5M | AS |
| Apotek 1 Tverlandet | Kvilut 24 | 6 | NOK 0 | AS |
| Qalba Consulting | Kongleveien 30A | 0 | NOK 0 | ENK |
Observations:
- AS is the dominant organizational form (9 companies), with high EBITDA and stable income.
- Apotek 1 Trekanten Bodø and Vitusapotek City Nord have zero sales revenue and zero employees in 2026, which may indicate temporary closure or data errors.
- Qalba Consulting is a unique ENK (Sole Proprietorship) in the industry, but has no employees or income.
Business Geography
Distribution of Pharmacies in Bodø and Tverlandet (2026):
| Location | Number of Companies | Number of Employees | Sales Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bodø | 8 | 119 | NOK 214.4M |
| Tverlandet | 1 | 6 | NOK 0 |
Analysis:
- Bodø is the primary center for the pharmacy industry, with 8 companies and 119 employees.
- Tverlandet has one company (Apotek 1 Tverlandet), but with zero sales revenue and zero employees in 2026, which may indicate a new start or temporary closure.
- Concentration in Bodø highlights the city's role as the main city in Nordland, with high population density and demand for pharmacy services.

Business Dynamics
Bankruptcies and Operational Status (2026):
- No bankruptcies registered among the 10 companies in the pharmacy industry in Bodø.
- Four companies (Apotek 1 Trekanten, Vitusapotek City Nord, Apotek 1 Tverlandet, Qalba Consulting) have zero sales revenue and zero employees in 2026, which may indicate:
- Temporary closure
- Data errors or missing updates
- New companies in the startup phase
Operational Results:
- Apotek 1 City Nord has the highest EBITDA (NOK 5.7M) and highest revenue (NOK 77.3M).
- Boots Apotek Bodø has the lowest EBITDA margin (1%) and lowest revenue (NOK 20.0M), but stable operating result (NOK 156.5K).
Outlook
Outlook for Entrepreneurs
Opportunities:
- Strong growth in sales revenue (19.7% from 2024 to 2025) and increasing number of employees (6.4% from 2025 to 2026) show a positive trend.
- Bodø's dominant role as the main city in Nordland provides good infrastructure and population density for pharmacies.
- High EBITDA margin (6–7%) among the most successful companies (Apotek 1, Vitusapotek) indicates good operational efficiency.
Challenges:
- Different income levels between companies (from NOK 0 to NOK 77.3M) may indicate varying levels of competition and market share.
- Tverlandet has potential for development, but more data is needed to assess opportunities.
- Bankruptcies are not registered, but four companies have zero sales revenue, which may be a challenge for new entrepreneurs.
Outlook for the Craftsmanship Group
Contrast between pharmacies and craftsmanship in Bodø:
- Craftsmanship has 13 companies (2026), while pharmacies have 10 companies.
- Sales revenue for craftsmanship (NOK 314.9M in 2025) is 10.5% higher than for pharmacies (NOK 300.2M in 2025).
- Employees in craftsmanship (133 in 2026) are 16.1% higher than in pharmacies (117 in 2026).
Peer companies in craftsmanship (non-pharmacies):
| Name | Address | Sales Revenue | EBITDA | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synsam Bodø Hunstadsenteret | Bodøveien 674 | NOK 7.4M | NOK 1.4M | 5 |
| Brilleland Avd 443 Bodø | Storgata 5 | NOK 5.6M | NOK 407.8K | 5 |
| Jacob Klette Optikk As Avd Bodø | Storgata 16 | NOK 6.1M | NOK 266.1K | 7 |
Conclusion:
- Craftsmanship has more companies and higher sales revenue, but lower EBITDA compared to pharmacies.
- Pharmacies have higher EBITDA margin (6–7%) than craftsmanship (1–2%), indicating better operational efficiency.



Other companies in håndverk (not in pharmacy)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synsam Bodø Hunstadsenteret | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Bodøveien 674, 8019 | NOK 7.4M | 5 | NOK 1.4M |
| Brilleland Avd 443 Bodø | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Storgata 5, 8006 Bodø | NOK 5.6M | 5 | NOK 407.8K |
| Jacob Klette Optikk As Avd Bodø | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Storgata 16, 8006 Bodø | NOK 6.1M | 7 | NOK 266.1K |
Conclusion
Pharmacies in Bodø show strong growth potential, especially with a 19.7% increase in sales revenue from 2024 to 2025 and rising number of employees. Geographically, Bodø is the primary center, with 8 companies and 119 employees, while Tverlandet has potential for development. The AS organizational form dominates, with high EBITDA and stable income. For entrepreneurs, it is important to focus on operational efficiency and market segmentation, given the varying income levels between companies. At the same time, attention should be paid to data errors or temporary closures at some companies. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal localization in Bodø for pharmacies, based on market data and operational statistics.