Pharmacies in Drammen

Pharmacies in Drammen constitute a stable and growing sector with 28 registered companies in the municipality. In recent years, the industry has experienced significant growth in both sales and number of employees, with sales increasing by over 40% from 2017 to 2025. Drammen has a good development pattern with several pharmacies in both the city center and peripheral areas, indicating good accessibility for the population. At the same time, data shows that the industry has been able to maintain a low number of bankruptcies, highlighting its economic stability.

Economic Trends

In Drammen, sales for the pharmacy sector have grown from NOK 403.5 million in 2016 to NOK 785.8 million in 2025, with an average annual growth of 10.9%. The number of employees has increased from 217 in 2016 to 327 in 2026, a rise of 50.7%. The most significant growth occurred between 2021 and 2023, where the number of employees increased by 14.7% and sales by 9.2%. This shows that the industry has been able to adapt to economic challenges while expanding operations.

Key Players in the Industry

In Drammen, 16 registered pharmacies operate, with organizational forms primarily as AS (23 companies). The most well-known companies include:

• Vitusapotek Landfalløya (27 employees, NOK 35.8 million in sales)
• Åssiden Apotek (26 employees, NOK 39.5 million in sales)
• Apotek 1 Buskerud Storsenter (25 employees, NOK 78.6 million in sales)
• Apotek 1 Gulskogen (25 employees, NOK 58.9 million in sales)

One of the registered companies, Apoteket Brakerøya, shows no activity in the data, which may indicate closure or lack of reporting. There are no bankruptcies registered in the industry in Drammen, emphasizing its economic stability.

Geographic Distribution

Pharmacies in Drammen are distributed across several areas in the municipality:

Drammen itself is the most active area with 17 companies and 253 employees, indicating a well-developed pharmacy infrastructure in the city center.

Dynamics and Stability

The industry has been able to maintain a low number of bankruptcies, with no registered bankruptcies in the pharmacy sector in Drammen. This shows that companies have been able to adapt to economic challenges and maintain operations. At the same time, sales and number of employees have grown significantly, indicating a positive development in the industry. However, there are variations in EBITDA margins, with an average margin of 4% for pharmacies in Drammen.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the pharmacy sector in Drammen, the data shows a stable and growing industry. With annual sales growth of over 10% and an increase in the number of employees, there are good prospects for new players. At the same time, there are no registered bankruptcies, indicating a robust sector. However, it is important to be aware of variations in EBITDA margins and ensure good financial planning.

Comparison with the Craft Sector

In Drammen, the pharmacy sector is part of the broader craft group (craft), which has 30 companies. The craft sector shows similar sales growth (10.9% annual) and an increase in the number of employees (from 235 to 337). However, the craft sector has more companies and a slightly different structure. Examples of companies in the craft group that are not pharmacies include:

• Synsam Buskerud Storsenter (NOK 8.9 million in sales, NOK 1.7 million in EBITDA)
• Centrum Optikk As (NOK 3.3 million in sales, NOK 231,000 in EBITDA)

This shows that the craft group has a broader variation in company structure and income levels.

Pharmacies in Drammen show positive development with stable growth in sales and number of employees. With no bankruptcies and a good distribution of companies in the municipality, the industry is an attractive area for entrepreneurs. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and analyze business opportunities in Drammen for the pharmacy sector.