Pharmacy in Lillestrøm: Industry Overview and Outlook

Pharmacy in Lillestrøm is a stable and growing industry with 25 registered companies in the municipality. In 2025, the industry had 229 employees and annual revenues of 566 million NOK. In recent years, the industry has shown variation in growth, with a significant increase in 2022 (15% sales growth) and weaker development in 2023. The most prominent companies are Vitusapotek, Apotek 1, and Boots Apotek, which operate in several of the municipality's centers. The industry has high gross profit margins (up to 9679%) and relatively stable EBITDA margins (5–7%). There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, indicating solid financing and operational security.

Sales and employee development (2016–2025):

Key figures in 2025:

• Average gross profit margin: 9679% (Lillestrøm), 5666% (Strømmen), 2586% (Skedsmokorset)
• EBITDA margins: 5–7%
• Average income per employee: 2.9–3.8 million NOK
• Total debt: 53.9–56.8 million NOK per area

The industry showed strong growth in 2022 but has since experienced weaker development. The most stable part of the industry is in Lillestrøm and Strømmen, while Skedsmokorset and Kjeller have higher income growth in certain years.

In Lillestrøm, there are 25 companies in the pharmacy industry, with the following development:

• Vitusapotek Strømmen Storsenter (Støperiveien 5, Strømmen): 28 employees, 94.6M in sales, 5.9M EBITDA, 6% EBITDA margin
• Apotek 1 Romerike Helsebygg (Dampsagveien 2, Lillestrøm): 21 employees, 58.0M in sales, 4.3M EBITDA, 7% EBITDA margin
• Boots Apotek Skedsmokorset (Furuholtet 11, Skedsmokorset): 15 employees, 35.0M in sales, 632.1K EBITDA, 1% EBITDA margin
• Apotek 1 Kanalveien (Kanalveien 1, Lillestrøm): 20 employees, 38.7M in sales, 2.8M EBITDA, 7% EBITDA margin
• Vitusapotek Lillestrøm Torv (Teatergata 14, Lillestrøm): 17 employees, 47.3M in sales, 2.9M EBITDA, 6% EBITDA margin

Organizational forms:

• AS (19 companies): 258 employees, 521.8M in operating income, 26.5M EBITDA, 5% EBITDA margin

Bankruptcy statistics:

• No registered bankruptcies in the industry in the municipality.
• Two companies (Apotek For Deg and Vitusapotek Kjeller As) have 0 in sales and EBITDA, which may indicate recent startups or transition periods.

Distribution of activity in the municipality's areas (2025):

Key centers:

• Lillestrøm has the most companies (5) and highest number of employees (85), with an average sales of 35.8M per company.
• Strømmen has the highest sales (197.5M) and EBITDA (10.9M), but fewer employees (59) compared to Lillestrøm.
• Kjeller and Sørumsand have the highest sales growth (10% and 0%), but fewer employees.

Conclusion: Lillestrøm and Strømmen are the most active areas, with high concentration of companies and employees. Skedsmokorset and Kjeller have growth potential, especially with higher sales growth in certain years.

Bankruptcy statistics and operational security:

• No registered bankruptcies in the pharmacy industry in Lillestrøm during 2016–2025.
• Two companies (Apotek For Deg and Vitusapotek Kjeller As) have 0 in sales and EBITDA, which may indicate recent startups or transition periods.
• Stable finances: Most companies have high gross profit margins (up to 9679%) and relatively stable EBITDA margins (5–7%), indicating good operational security.

Operational results:

• Vitusapotek Strømmen Storsenter has the highest EBITDA (5.9M) and highest EBITDA margin (6%) in 2025.
• Boots Apotek Skedsmokorset has the lowest EBITDA margin (1%), but higher sales (35.0M) compared to other companies.

Conclusion: The industry is stable with no bankruptcies, and most companies have high gross profit margins. However, there are variations in EBITDA margins, which may be due to different operational strategies or cost structures.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Growth potential and opportunities:

• Stable growth level: The industry showed growth in 2022 (15%) and 2024 (4.3%), with an average annual growth of 3.5% over the period 2016–2025.
• High gross profit margins: Average gross profit margin of 9679% (Lillestrøm) and 5666% (Strømmen) indicates good margin strategy and low cost structure.
• Stable finances: EBITDA margins range from 5–7%, indicating good operational security and profitability.

Outlook for new companies:

• Lillestrøm and Strømmen are the most attractive areas for new companies, with high concentration of companies and employees.
• Skedsmokorset and Kjeller have higher sales growth (10% and 0%) and can be good areas for development.
• High income per employee: Average income per employee ranges from 2.9–3.8 million NOK, indicating efficient operations and high productivity.

Conclusion: Pharmacy in Lillestrøm is an attractive industry for entrepreneurs with stable growth figures, high gross profit margins, and good operational security. The most prominent areas are Lillestrøm and Strømmen, with potential for development in Skedsmokorset and Kjeller.

Comparison with the handicraft sector:

• Number of companies: The handicraft sector has 26 companies, while the pharmacy industry has 25 companies in Lillestrøm.
• Sales: The handicraft sector had 581.6M in sales in 2025, while the pharmacy industry had 566.0M in sales. This indicates that the handicraft sector has slightly higher sales volume.
• Employees: The handicraft sector had 264 employees in 2026, while the pharmacy industry had 254 employees in 2026. This indicates that the handicraft sector has slightly more employees.

Peer companies in the handicraft sector:

• Synsam Recycling Outlet Strømmen Storsenter (Støperiveien 5, 2010 Strømmen): 9 employees, 16.4M in sales, 3.0M EBITDA, 18.6M in operating income.

Conclusion: The handicraft sector has slightly higher sales volume and number of employees compared to the pharmacy industry, but both sectors have stable growth and high gross profit margins. The pharmacy industry, however, has higher EBITDA margins (5–7%) compared to the handicraft sector (3–5%).

Pharmacy in Lillestrøm is a stable and growing industry with 25 companies, 229 employees, and 566 million NOK in sales in 2025. The industry has high gross profit margins (up to 9679%) and relatively stable EBITDA margins (5–7%). The most prominent companies are Vitusapotek, Apotek 1, and Boots Apotek, which operate in Lillestrøm, Strømmen, and Skedsmokorset. The industry has no registered bankruptcies, indicating good operational security and financing. Outlooks for new companies are favorable, especially in Lillestrøm and Strømmen, with potential for development in Skedsmokorset and Kjeller. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in the municipality for this industry.