Pharmacies in Sarpsborg: Industry Overview and Prospects

Pharmacies in Sarpsborg form a stable and important part of the municipality's economy. With 13 registered companies and over 140 employees, the data shows a growing sector with variation in business models and geographic spread. The most significant operations are conglomerate-based AS companies, and there is a clear focus on both local and regional markets. Prospects for new players are mixed, with opportunities in growth areas and challenges related to competition from established players.

Economic Trends

Sales Development (NOK):

Employees (Year-over-Year):

Sales grew significantly from 2017 to 2018, but have since shown more stable development. Employee numbers grew until 2023, with a decline in 2025 that may be due to restructurings or declines in certain areas.

Key Players in the Industry

Sarpsborg has 13 registered pharmacy operations, mainly AS companies. The most well-known companies include:

• Apotek 1 Bjørnen Sarpsborg (Roald Amundsens gate 28) – 18 employees, 39.3M in operating income
• Vitusapotek Borg (Klokkergårdveien 31) – 13 employees, 47.6M in operating income
• Boots Apotek Lande (Vestrevei 4) – 12 employees, 35.0M in operating income
• Apotek 1 Svanen Borgenhaugen (Snekkerstubakken 26) – 12 employees, 39.3M in operating income

Most companies have high operating margins (4–7%), but there is variation in EBITDA margins and debt levels. Vitusapotek Sarpsborg and Vitusapotek Grålum have reported zero sales, which may indicate operational or registration issues.

Distribution of Operations in the Municipality

Pharmacy operations are spread across several districts in Sarpsborg:

Sarpsborg itself is the most active district with 7 companies and the highest sales. Grålum and Varteig have lower activity, with Grålum having no sales and Varteig having very low sales (794.0K NOK).

None of the registered companies in the pharmacy industry have filed for bankruptcy, which shows a stable sector. However, there is variation in financial results:

• Vitusapotek Sarpsborg and Vitusapotek Grålum have reported zero sales, which may be a warning sign for new players.
• Boots Apotek Hafslundsøy has a low EBITDA margin (1%) and high debt (2.4M NOK), which may indicate increased risk factors.
• Most companies have high operating margins (4–7%) and stable growth in recent years, but there is a need to follow up on financial details for certain players.

Prospects for New Players

The pharmacy industry in Sarpsborg shows both opportunities and challenges for new players:

• Opportunities:
• Stable number of companies (13) and growth in employee numbers until 2023.
• High operating margin (4–7%) and good sales growth in periods (e.g., +15.3% from 2021 to 2022).
• Large market share in Sarpsborg and areas such as Borgenhaugen and Greåker.
• Challenges:
• Competition from established players such as Apotek 1 Bjørnen and Vitusapotek Borg.
• Risk of low operating results in certain areas (e.g., Grålum and Varteig).
• Necessity to ensure high quality and efficient operations to compete with existing companies.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Sarpsborg for pharmacy operations, with a focus on areas with high customer density and good infrastructure.

The handicraft sector in Sarpsborg has 14 companies, showing that the pharmacy industry is part of a larger industrial area. Comparison of key data:

• Sales: The handicraft sector had 345.2M NOK in 2025, compared to 334.1M NOK for the pharmacy industry. This shows that the handicraft sector has a slightly higher sales volume, but the pharmacy industry has higher operating margins (4–7% vs. 4–6% for handicraft).
• Employees: The handicraft sector had 142 employees in 2026, compared to 135 employees in the pharmacy industry. This shows a very similar development in the number of employees.
• Peer companies: Examples of companies in the handicraft sector that are not pharmacy operations include S. Gangestad Optikk Storbyen As (sales: 11.2M NOK, EBITDA: 1.4M NOK). This shows that the handicraft sector has a broader variation in business forms, which could be an advantage for the pharmacy industry to exploit in the future.

The pharmacy industry in Sarpsborg shows stability, but the variation in financial results and geographic spread means that new players must be aware of competition and operational efficiency. With 13 companies and over 140 employees, the sector is established, but there are opportunities for growth in areas with lower competitive pressure. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and strategies to compete effectively in this sector.