Industry · municipality
Pharmacy in Kongsberg: Industry Overview and Outlook
A data-driven analysis of the pharmacy sector in Kongsberg municipality
Executive Summary
Pharmacy in Kongsberg is a stable and growing industry with 6 registered companies and 58 employees as of 2026. The sector is concentrated in Kongsberg city (5 companies, 56 employees) and Hvittingfoss (1 company, 6 employees). Sales revenue grew from NOK 120.1M in 2016 to NOK 181.8M in 2025, despite a sharp dip in 2017. Key players include Apotek 1 Mynten, Vitusapotek Berja Senter, and Boots Apotek Sølvkronen. The industry shows resilience, with no reported bankruptcies and strong EBITDA margins (5–7%).
Economic Overview
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees | YoY Change (Sales) | YoY Change (Employees) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 120.1M | 66 | - | - |
| 2017 | 58.3M | 65 | -51.5% | -1.5% |
| 2018 | 129.3M | 57 | +122.0% | -12.3% |
| 2019 | 114.4M | 59 | -11.5% | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 119.9M | 54 | +4.8% | -8.5% |
| 2021 | 129.7M | 54 | +8.2% | 0.0% |
| 2022 | 142.0M | 56 | +9.5% | +3.7% |
| 2023 | 148.5M | 63 | +4.6% | +12.5% |
| 2024 | 170.4M | 58 | +14.8% | -7.9% |
| 2025 | 181.8M | 57 | +6.7% | -1.7% |
Key trends: Sales recovered strongly after 2017, with a 14.8% growth in 2024. Employee numbers fluctuated but stabilized at ~58 in 2026. EBITDA margins (5–7%) and gross profit margins (13,000–13,200%) indicate strong profitability despite high operational costs.



Companies in the Sector
6 companies are registered in the pharmacy sector in Kongsberg, all with the legal structure AS. The key companies include:
- Apotek 1 Mynten (Myntgata 13, Kongsberg) – 17 employees, NOK 38.7M in sales, NOK 2.8M EBITDA
- Apotek 1 Stortorvet Kongsberg (Storgata 28, Kongsberg) – 17 employees, NOK 38.7M in sales, NOK 2.8M EBITDA
- Vitusapotek Berja Senter (Herman Foss gate 8, Kongsberg) – 9 employees, NOK 23.6M in sales, NOK 1.5M EBITDA
- Boots Apotek Sølvkronen (Storgata 30, Kongsberg) – 8 employees, NOK 25.0M in sales, NOK 451.5K EBITDA
- Boots Apotek Hvittingfoss (Sentrumsveien 28, Hvittingfoss) – 6 employees, NOK 15.0M in sales, NOK 270.9K EBITDA
- Vitusapotek Åsen Kongsberg (Ove Gjeddes vei 110, Kongsberg) – 0 employees, 0 sales (needs updating)
Observation: One of the registered companies (Vitusapotek Åsen) has no operational data, which may indicate a potential issue.
Business Geography
| Location | Number of companies | Number of employees | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kongsberg | 5 | 56 | 126.0M | 7.6M |
| Hvittingfoss | 1 | 6 | 15.0M | 270.9K |
Kongsberg dominates with 5 out of 6 companies and 56 out of 62 employees. Hvittingfoss has a smaller but stable presence, with 1 company and 6 employees. Sales in Hvittingfoss are lower (NOK 15.0M vs. NOK 126.0M in Kongsberg), but the EBITDA margin is higher (1% vs. 5%).

Business Dynamics
Bankruptcy safety: None of the 6 companies in the pharmacy sector in Kongsberg are registered as bankrupt, indicating a stable sector. However, there is a lack of operational data for Vitusapotek Åsen Kongsberg (0 employees, 0 sales), which should be investigated further.
Legal structure: All companies are AS entities, indicating a standardized structure in the sector. There are no companies with other legal structures (e.g., sole proprietorships).
Outlook
Outlook for the pharmacy sector
Positive development: Sales increased by 6.7% in 2025 compared to 2024, and the EBITDA margin (5–7%) shows good operational efficiency. With 58 employees in 2026 and 6 companies, the sector is stable and not overburdened.
Opportunities: Hvittingfoss has potential for growth, especially with an EBITDA margin of 1% (higher than Kongsberg’s 5%). A new pharmacy could also be profitable in Kongsberg, where sales and employees have stabilized.
Warning: The lack of operational data for Vitusapotek Åsen Kongsberg should be investigated to avoid potential risk factors.
Outlook for the Handicraft Group
Contrast to the pharmacy sector: The handicraft group in Kongsberg has 7 companies (vs. 6 in pharmacy) and similar sales development (NOK 181.8M in 2025). However, the handicraft group has fewer employees (59 in 2026 vs. 58 in pharmacy) and a peer company (Gro Jacobsen) with 0 employees and 0 sales, which may affect the group’s average values.
Conclusion: The pharmacy sector has better operational efficiency (higher EBITDA margin) than the handicraft group, but both sectors show stable development. Gro Jacobsen (medical/orthopedic goods store) is an interesting peer for comparing strategies.



Other companies in håndverk (not in pharmacy)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gro Jacobsen | medical/orthopaedic goods store | Daniel Barths vei 51, 3612 Kongsberg | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion
Pharmacy in Kongsberg is a stable and growing industry with good operational efficiency and no bankruptcies. With 58 employees and 6 companies in 2026, the sector is well-positioned. Both Hvittingfoss and Kongsberg have growth potential, especially with high EBITDA margins. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Kongsberg for pharmacies, focusing on areas with high operational efficiency and stable markets.