Industry · municipality
The Pharmacy Industry in Halden: Current Status and Future Prospects
6 companies, 82 employees, and a growing market share in Halden, Viken
Brief overview of the pharmacy industry in Halden
The pharmacy industry in Halden is a stable and growing sector with 6 registered companies and 82 employees. In recent years, the industry has shown positive development in sales and operating results, with an average EBITDA margin of 6–7%. Several of the companies have high operating results and labor costs aligned with industry standards. Future prospects appear favorable, especially with increasing population and healthcare services in the municipality.
Economic overview of the industry
Sales and employees
- Sales (2025): NOK 196.1 million (increase of 16.0% from 2024)
- Employees (2026): 80 people (increase of 8.1% from 2025)
Operating results and margins
- EBITDA (2025): NOK 10.2 million
- EBITDA margin: 6%
- Gross margin: 12,445% (high margin due to high selling prices relative to purchase costs)
Development over time
- Sales experienced a sharp decline of -59.3% from 2016 to 2017, but have since grown with an average annual growth of 11.7% from 2020 to 2025.
- Employees have grown by 16.4% from 2022 to 2023, but later had a slight decline of -2.8% from 2023 to 2024.



Companies in the pharmacy industry in Halden
Registered companies in the pharmacy industry in Halden
| Company | Address | Number of employees | Operating result (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apotek 1 Ørnen Halden | Storgata 5 | 19 | 2.2M | 2.8M | Active |
| Apotek 1 Tista | Walkers gate 4 | 17 | 3.4M | 4.3M | Active |
| Apotek 1 Brødløs | B R A veien 55 | 16 | 0 | 0 | Inactive |
| Apotek 1 Svanen Halden | Storgata 12 | 15 | 1.1M | 1.4M | Active |
| Vitusapotek Høvleriet | Walkers gate 8A | 9 | 0 | 0 | Inactive |
| Svinesundparken Apotek As | Svinesundparken 3B | 6 | 1.6M | 1.6M | Active |
Organizational forms
- AS (Limited liability company): 6 companies (100% of the industry)
- No companies are registered as sole proprietorships or other organizational forms.
Geographic distribution of activity
Distribution of activity in the municipality
- Halden: 6 companies, 82 employees, sales of NOK 147.8 million, operating result of NOK 8.3 million.
- Other districts in the municipality: No activity registered in the pharmacy industry in other districts besides Halden.
Concentration
- All companies and employees in the industry are concentrated in the center of Halden, particularly in areas such as Storgata and Walkers gate.

Dynamics and stability in the industry
Bankruptcy safety in the industry
- No companies in the pharmacy industry in Halden are registered as bankruptcy material (2025).
- Two companies (Apotek 1 Brødløs and Vitusapotek Høvleriet) have 0 sales and operating results, but are not registered as bankruptcy material.
Dynamics in the industry
- Stable number of companies: 6 companies in 2025, same as in 2024.
- Fluctuation in employees: Largest increase from 2022 to 2023 (+16.4%), but a small decline from 2023 to 2024 (-2.8%).
- Sales have grown strongly from 2020 to 2025, with an average annual increase of 11.7%.
Outlook for entrepreneurs and investors
- Stable market: The industry has proven to be stable with no bankruptcy registrations and growing sales volume.
- High margins: EBITDA margin of 6–7% and a high gross margin of 12,445% indicate strong profitability.
- Competitive companies: The most profitable companies have high operating results and EBITDA, which may be a challenge for new entrants.
- Opportunities for development: Increasing population and healthcare services in Halden may provide opportunities for new pharmacies or expansion of existing ones.
Recommendation
SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Halden for pharmacy activities, with a focus on areas with high population density and good access to healthcare services.
Conclusion
The pharmacy industry in Halden proves to be a stable and growing sector with good economic results and a strong market position. With 6 companies and 82 employees, as well as annual sales growth of over 11% in the last five years, the industry is well positioned for further development. For entrepreneurs and investors, Halden is an attractive municipality with opportunities for expansion and innovation in the pharmacy sector. SmartGrunder can help identify strategic locations and networks in the municipality.