Asian Restaurant Industry in Ålesund: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Overview of the Asian Restaurant Industry in Ålesund

Ålesund has an active Asian restaurant industry with 3 registered companies in 2025. The industry has shown a mix of strengths and challenges, with a sales increase from 2016 to 2024 (from NOK 9.9M to NOK 15.3M), followed by a sharp decline in 2025 (to NOK 6.4M). Employment trends have been more variable, with a peak of 46 employees in 2025 before a decline to 32 employees in 2026. The industry is dominated by AS companies (2 companies), with a single ENK company (Eide Takeaway) operating without employees or sales.

Key Figures in 2025:

• Sales: NOK 6.4M
• Employment: 32
• EBITDA margin: -1% (for the entire industry)
• Average sales per employee: NOK 200K
• Average operating result per employee: NOK -3.3K

Sales Development (2016–2025):

Employment Development (2016–2026):

Critical Points:

• Sharp sales decline in 2025 (58%) without a clear explanation in the data
• Highest operating result per employee in 2023 (NOK 187.9K) for Lille Aalesund As
• Eide Takeaway has 0 employees and 0 sales, but is registered as an active company

Registered Companies in Ålesund (2025):

1. Lille Aalesund As (Hellebroa, Ålesund)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 1992-01-01
• Employees: 29
• Sales: NOK 6.9M
• Operating result: NOK -167K
• EBITDA: NOK -153K
• Average sales per employee: NOK 237.9K

1. Tajmahal As (Kongens gate 32A, Ålesund)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2009-07-20
• Employees: 8
• Sales: NOK 6.6M
• Operating result: NOK -37K
• EBITDA: NOK 7K
• Average sales per employee: NOK 825.6K

1. Eide Takeaway (Smedbakken 10, Vatne)

• Organizational form: ENK
• Founded: 2023-11-23
• Employees: 0
• Sales: NOK 0
• Operating result: NOK 0
• EBITDA: NOK 0

Organizational Composition:

• 2 companies are AS (67% of the industry)
• 1 company is ENK (33% of the industry)
• No bankrupt companies in the industry

Distribution of Activity in the Municipality (2025):

Details of Activity in Ålesund:

• 1 company group with 2 companies and 37 employees
• Total sales: NOK 13.5M
• Average sales per employee: NOK 302K
• Average operating result per employee: NOK -3.3K
• Average EBITDA margin: -1%
• Average gross profit: 66% of sales
• Average operating profit: -1% of sales

Observation: All companies in the industry are registered in Ålesund, with a focus on central areas such as Hellebroa and Kongens gate.

Bankruptcies and Company Changes:

• No bankruptcies registered in the industry in 2025
• Eide Takeaway (ENK) has 0 employees and 0 sales, but is registered as an active company
• Lille Aalesund As has the highest operating result per employee (NOK 187.9K) in 2025
• Tajmahal As has a positive EBITDA (NOK 7K) in 2025, compared to negative for Lille Aalesund As

Trend Analysis:

• Sales had a sharp decline in 2025 (58%) without a clear explanation in the data
• Employment development had a peak in 2025 (46 employees) before a sharp decline in 2026
• The EBITDA margin for the entire industry was negative (-1%) in 2025

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Short-term Challenges:

• Sharp sales decline in 2025 (58%) without a clear explanation in the data
• Larger companies (such as Lille Aalesund As) have negative EBITDA
• Eide Takeaway has 0 employees and 0 sales, but is registered as an active company

Long-term Opportunities:

• Sales increase from 2016 to 2024 (from NOK 9.9M to NOK 15.3M)
• Larger companies have higher average sales per employee (NOK 302K)
• The EBITDA margin for the entire industry was negative (-1%) in 2025, but it is possible to improve efficiency

Recommendations for Entrepreneurs:

• Focus on efficiency improvements and cost control
• Develop unique qualities that can differentiate from competitors
• Consider locating in central areas such as Hellebroa and Kongens gate
• Consider leveraging potential market opportunities in nearby areas

Comparison with the Broader Sector:

• Number of companies: 106 companies in the restaurant/café sector (compared to 3 in the Asian restaurant industry)
• Sales: NOK 353.6M in 2025 (compared to NOK 6.4M in the Asian restaurant industry)
• Employees: 1025 employees in 2025 (compared to 32 employees in the Asian restaurant industry)

Key Figures for the Restaurant/Café Sector (2025):

• Sales: NOK 353.6M
• Employees: 1025
• Average sales per employee: NOK 345K
• Average EBITDA margin: 4.0% (compared to -1% in the Asian restaurant industry)

Peer Companies with High EBITDA:

1. Coop Nordvest Sa (5289) Obs Kafe Stormoa (NOK 49.3M sales, NOK 1.4M EBITDA)
2. Skateflua As (NOK 27.6M sales, NOK 3.0M EBITDA)
3. Seagrasp As (NOK 28.0M sales, NOK 2.7M EBITDA)

Conclusion: The Asian restaurant industry has potential in a larger sector with higher sales and better EBITDA margins, but must compete with a wide range of companies in the restaurant/café sector.

Ålesund has an active, but challenging Asian restaurant industry with 3 companies and a sales development that had a sharp decline in 2025. Although the industry has shown an increase in sales from 2016 to 2024, it is necessary to analyze the cause of the sharp decline in 2025. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on efficiency improvements, unique qualities, and locating in central areas. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Ålesund for this industry, with a focus on natural development opportunities.