The Pharmacy Industry in Ringerike: Current Status and Future Prospects

The pharmacy industry in Ringerike is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 6 registered companies and a total of 92 employees in 2026. The industry has shown strong fluctuations in sales over the years, with a significant increase of +98% from 2017 to 2018, but also periods of decline. There is a clear concentration of activity in Hønefoss, which hosts all the companies. The EBITDA margin stands at 6%, indicating relatively stable operations. The industry has not experienced bankruptcy among the reported companies, but there are variations in financial health between the individual businesses.

Sales for pharmacy businesses in Ringerike have shown significant variations over the years. The highest sales were reported in 2025 at NOK 223.1 million, while the lowest was in 2017 at NOK 93.2 million. There is a clear increase from 2023 to 2025, with +9.9% annual growth. The number of employees has increased from 70 in 2021 to 89 in 2026, with a rise of +11.2% from 2025 to 2026. The EBITDA margin has remained around 6% over the past few years, indicating stable operating results.

The following companies are registered in the pharmacy industry in Ringerike:

All companies are organized as AS. There are no companies in other organizational forms in the municipality.

All 6 companies in the pharmacy industry in Ringerike are located in Hønefoss. There are a total of 92 employees here, with an operating income of NOK 165.0 million and an EBITDA of NOK 10.0 million. Hønefoss is therefore the only city in the municipality with activity in this industry. There is no reported activity in other cities or districts in Ringerike.

Within the pharmacy industry in Ringerike, there are no bankruptcy-reported companies among the registered businesses. However, data shows that some companies have very low or no operating results. For example, both Apotek 1 Eikli and Haug Apotek As have no sales or operating income, which may indicate that they are in a transitional phase or have emerged during the period. There are no clear bankruptcies, but there are variations in financial health between the companies.

The pharmacy industry in Ringerike shows positive development in both sales and number of employees over the past few years. Sales have increased from NOK 168.6 million in 2023 to NOK 223.1 million in 2025, with an annual growth of +9.9%. The number of employees has also increased from 76 in 2023 to 89 in 2026. This indicates a stable and growing industry. For entrepreneurs, this is a good sign that there is potential for new ventures, especially in Hønefoss where there is already a concentration of pharmacy activity.

When comparing the pharmacy industry with the broader crafts group in Ringerike, data shows that the crafts group has more companies (7) than the pharmacy industry (6). Sales for the crafts group have also been somewhat higher, with NOK 232.4 million in 2025 compared to NOK 223.1 million for the pharmacy industry. However, both groups have shown similar growth trends over the years. An example of a business in the crafts group but not in the pharmacy industry is Hønefoss Optiske As, which has sales of NOK 9.3 million and an EBITDA of NOK 1.5 million. This shows that the crafts group has a broader variety of businesses, while the pharmacy industry is more specialized.

The pharmacy industry in Ringerike shows positive development with increasing sales and number of employees. The concentration of activity in Hønefoss indicates that this is an important city for pharmacy businesses. For entrepreneurs, this can be an opportunity, especially with the stable operating results and growth in the industry. At the same time, the comparison with the crafts group shows that there is a broader industrial structure in the municipality, which can provide opportunities for collaboration or diversification. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Ringerike for pharmacy businesses, based on data and development trends.