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The Pharmacy Industry in Vestvågøy: Current Status and Future

Published 29.09.2026

Analysis of companies, economic trends, and opportunities for entrepreneurs in Vestvågøy, Nordland, Norway

Brief overview of the pharmacy industry in Vestvågøy

The pharmacy industry in Vestvågøy is a stable but dynamic sector with two registered companies in the municipality. The two pharmacies in Leknes have shown strong economic growth over time, with an average annual sales growth of 10% since 2016. Workforce development has been more variable, but shows a general trend of increasing from 2016 to 2024. The industry is centered in Leknes and has proven resilient even during challenges such as the significant sales decline in 2017. This makes Vestvågøy an interesting municipality for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in the pharmacy industry.

Economic trends in the pharmacy industry

Economic trends

Sales development

YearSales (NOK)Annual change
201666,4M-
20170-100,0%
201853,6M+3,9%
201951,5M-3,9%
202065,3M+26,8%
202189,8M+37,5%
202289,7M-0,1%
202398,4M+9,7%
2024132,0M+34,1%
2025111,0M-15,9%

Workforce development

YearNumber of employeesAnnual change
201637-
201738+2,7%
201827-28,9%
201926-3,7%
202035+34,6%
202143+22,9%
202242-2,3%
202346+9,5%
202453+15,2%
202538-28,3%
202637-2,6%

Sales data shows an extreme decline in 2017, followed by a strong increase from 2018 to 2024. Workforce development has been more variable, but shows a general increase from 2016 to 2024 before a decline in 2025. This may indicate that the industry has been affected by external factors such as the pandemic and subsequent economic conditions.

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

Companies in the pharmacy industry

Registered companies

Vestvågøy has two registered pharmacy companies:

  1. Apotek 1 Vestvågøy
  • Address: Rådhusgata 6, Leknes
  • Legal form: AS
  • Founded: 1965-12-31
  • Number of employees: 20
  • Sales: 58,0M NOK
  • EBITDA: 4,3M NOK
  • EBITDA margin: 7%
  1. Apotek 1 Lofotsenteret
  • Address: Storgata 8, Leknes
  • Legal form: AS
  • Founded: 2006-02-01
  • Number of employees: 19
  • Sales: 38,7M NOK
  • EBITDA: 2,8M NOK
  • EBITDA margin: 7%

Both companies have proven to be stable, with high EBITDA margins of 7% and a combination of older and newer companies. The legal form AS is dominant in the industry.

Geographic distribution of pharmacies

Geographic distribution

LocationNumber of companiesNumber of employeesSales (NOK)
Leknes23996,7M

All pharmacies in Vestvågøy are located in Leknes, which is the municipality's administrative center. This indicates that the pharmacy industry is strongly linked to the central area, which can be an advantage for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a populated and well-accessible location.

Companies by place — pharmacy — Vestvågøy
Companies by place — pharmacy

Operational dynamics and bankruptcy statistics

The industry has proven to be relatively stable with no registered bankruptcies among the two companies. This is a positive indicator for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in Vestvågøy. Workforce development has been more variable, but shows a general trend of increasing from 2016 to 2024. This may indicate that the industry has been able to adapt to economic challenges over time.

Outlook for entrepreneurs

Future outlook

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the pharmacy industry in Vestvågøy, the data indicates several opportunities:

  • Stable market: The industry has proven resilient even under extreme conditions such as the significant sales decline in 2017.
  • Strong economic growth: Sales have increased by 34.1% from 2023 to 2024, indicating a positive trend.
  • Good location: All pharmacies are located in Leknes, which is a well-accessible and populated area.
  • Stable workforce: Although there have been variations, the number of employees has shown a general increase from 2016 to 2024.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Vestvågøy for the pharmacy, with a focus on natural conditions such as population density and infrastructure.

Conclusion

The pharmacy industry in Vestvågøy proves to be a stable and fluctuating sector with potential for further development. With two existing companies, strong economic growth and a good geographic location in Leknes, the municipality is an attractive place for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in the pharmacy industry. The data indicates that the industry has been able to adapt to challenges over time, which can give entrepreneurs secure expectations about future opportunities.