Pharmacies in Lillehammer

Pharmacy is a vital industry in Lillehammer, with 9 registered companies and 77 employees as of 2025. The sector shows resilience, with NOK 244 million in sales and NOK 14 million in EBITDA. Notably, Life Care As in Fåberg is a new entrant (founded 2024) but has not yet reported revenue. The industry is dominated by AS (limited liability companies), with no bankruptcies reported among local pharmacies. Key players include Apotek 1 Strandtorget, Vitusapotek, and Boots Apotek, which collectively drive the majority of sales and employment.

Sales Development (2016–2025):

• 2016: NOK 138.4M
• 2017: NOK 44.3M (decrease of 68.0%)
• 2018: NOK 245.2M (increase of 453.8%)
• 2025: NOK 244.0M (increase of 24.5% from 2024)

Employee Development (2016–2026):

• 2016: 75 employees
• 2025: 85 employees
• 2026: 96 employees (increase of 12.9%)

The industry experienced a sharp decline in 2017, likely due to market consolidation, but rebounded strongly in 2018. Sales and employment have shown a steady upward trend since 2020, with 9% revenue growth and +10.4% employee increase in 2025.

9 companies are registered in Lillehammer, with the following organizational forms:

Key Companies:

1. Apotek 1 Strandtorget (23 employees, NOK 58.0M in sales)
2. Vitusapotek Lillehammer (12 employees, NOK 23.6M in sales)
3. Boots Apotek Lillehammer (7 employees, NOK 20.0M in sales)
4. Life Care As (new company in Fåberg, 0 employees, 0 sales)

All companies are not bankrupt according to the data, and most were established in the 1990s or earlier.

Lillehammer is the headquarters of the pharmacy industry, with:

• 8 companies and 93 employees
• NOK 214.4M in sales and NOK 14.0M in EBITDA

Fåberg has a smaller presence:

• 1 company (Life Care As)
• 7 employees
• 0 sales (new company, 2024)

There are no other districts with pharmacy activity in the municipality.

Bankruptcy Statistics:

• No bankruptcies reported among pharmacies in Lillehammer (2016–2025).

Dynamics:

• Life Care As (Fåberg) is a new player (2024), but has no sales or profit.
• Boots Apotek Lillehammer had 0% sales growth in 2024, compared to 10% growth by competitors.
• Vitusapotek Søre Ål (5 employees) has the lowest EBITDA margin (6%) in the sector.

The industry shows stability, but with variations in individual company performance.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The pharmacy industry in Lillehammer shows rising sales (24.5% in 2025) and rising employees (12.9% in 2026). The EBITDA margin is at 6%, indicating good operational efficiency. With 9 companies and 77 employees, competition is moderate, but there is room for growth. New players like Life Care As could create competition, but there is no bankruptcy risk. Entrepreneurs should consider locating in Lillehammer to leverage the established customer base and infrastructure.

Craftsmanship is a broader NACE2 group with 10 companies in Lillehammer, compared to 9 pharmacy companies. Comparison of key figures:

Sales (2025):

• Craftsmanship: NOK 266.0M
• Pharmacies: NOK 244.0M

Employees (2026):

• Craftsmanship: 111 employees
• Pharmacies: 96 employees

Peer company in the craftsmanship group:

The craftsmanship group has higher sales and employees, but pharmacies have better EBITDA margins (6% vs. the craftsmanship group's unknown).

The pharmacy industry in Lillehammer is stable with rising sales (24.5% in 2025) and 96 employees in 2026. There is no bankruptcy and a high EBITDA margin (6%). Entrepreneurs should consider locating in Lillehammer to leverage the established infrastructure and customer base. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and assess operational conditions for new companies in the sector.