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Pharmacy Industry in Steinkjer: Current Status and Future Outlook

Published 25.09.2026

Analysis of Businesses, Economic Trends, and Development Opportunities in Steinkjer Municipality

Executive Summary

The pharmacy industry in Steinkjer is a stable and important part of the local economy. In 2025, there are four registered pharmacy operations in the municipality, employing a total of 54 people and achieving sales revenue of NOK 178.2 million. The industry has shown variations in sales over time, but experienced a significant increase of 21.5% from 2023 to 2024. The EBITDA margin stands at 6%, indicating a relatively good financial health for the local businesses. None of the registered businesses have gone bankrupt, underscoring the industry's stability.

Economic Trends

YearSales (NOK)Year-over-Year Sales ChangeNumber of EmployeesYear-over-Year Employee Change
2016126.1M-69-
2017102.8M-18.5%62-10.1%
2018149.1M+45.0%54-12.9%
2019138.4M-7.2%51-5.6%
2020145.7M+5.2%48-5.9%
2021148.1M+1.7%45-6.2%
2022148.8M+0.4%47+4.4%
2023140.9M-5.3%54+14.9%
2024171.2M+21.5%58+7.4%
2025178.2M+4.1%54-6.9%

Sales have shown significant fluctuations over time, with a marked increase of 45% from 2017 to 2018. After a decline in 2019 and 2020, the industry has experienced stable improvement from 2022 onward. The number of employees has also shown variations, with a decline from 2016 to 2021, followed by an increase from 2022 to 2024.

Sales over time — pharmacy — Steinkjer
Sales over time — pharmacy
Number of companies — pharmacy — Steinkjer
Number of companies — pharmacy
Employees over time — pharmacy — Steinkjer
Employees over time — pharmacy

Registered Businesses

The following four pharmacy operations are registered in Steinkjer:

  1. Vitusapotek Elgen – Sjøfartsgata 2, Steinkjer. AS, established 1965-12-31. 18 employees. Sales: NOK 59.1M. EBITDA: NOK 3.7M.
  2. Apotek 1 Steinkjer – Sjøfartsgata 2, Steinkjer. AS, established 2002-04-10. 13 employees. Sales: NOK 19.3M. EBITDA: NOK 1.4M.
  3. Vitusapotek Nordstjernen Steinkjer – Bogavegen 6, Steinkjer. AS, established 1965-12-31. 12 employees. Sales: NOK 47.3M. EBITDA: NOK 2.9M.
  4. Vitusapotek Medisinsk Senter Steinkjer – Fyrgata 3, Steinkjer. AS, established 2007-09-01. 11 employees. Sales: NOK 35.5M. EBITDA: NOK 2.2M.

All businesses are organized as AS, and they have a combined total debt of NOK 46.7M. The industry's EBITDA margin stands at 6%, indicating a relatively good financial health for the local businesses.

Geographic Distribution

All four pharmacy operations in Steinkjer are located in the municipality's central areas:

  • Sjøfartsgata 2 – Vitusapotek Elgen and Apotek 1 Steinkjer (total of 31 employees)
  • Bogavegen 6 – Vitusapotek Nordstjernen Steinkjer (12 employees)
  • Fyrgata 3 – Vitusapotek Medisinsk Senter Steinkjer (11 employees)

This shows that the pharmacy industry is well distributed in the municipality's center, which can be an advantage for both customers and new players in the industry.

Companies by place — pharmacy — Steinkjer
Companies by place — pharmacy

Operational Dynamics and Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the registered pharmacy operations in Steinkjer have gone bankrupt, indicating a stable industry. However, it is worth noting that the industry's total debt stands at NOK 46.7M, which could be a challenge for some businesses. The EBITDA margin of 6% shows that the businesses have a relatively good financial health, but some degree of financial improvement may be necessary to achieve more stable results.

Future Outlook

The industry shows signs of stable growth, especially after 2022, with a 21.5% increase in sales from 2023 to 2024. This may indicate growing demand for pharmacy services in Steinkjer. The EBITDA margin of 6% shows that the businesses have a relatively good financial health, which can be an advantage for new players looking to establish themselves in the municipality. However, it may be challenging to compete with the already established businesses, which have combined sales of over NOK 178 million in 2025.

Conclusion

The pharmacy industry in Steinkjer shows signs of stable growth and relatively good financial health. With four established businesses and combined sales of over NOK 178 million in 2025, the industry can be an attractive market for new players. However, it is important to be aware of the competition from the already established businesses. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore potential locations in Steinkjer for the pharmacy industry, with a focus on natural conditions and market prospects.