The Asian Restaurant Industry in Bærum: Current Status and Future Outlook

Overview of the Asian Restaurant Industry in Bærum

The Asian restaurant industry in Bærum consists of four registered companies, with a mix of older and newer businesses. Workforce development has been volatile, with a decline from 82 employees in 2016 to 13 in 2025, followed by an increase to 20 employees in 2026. Sales have also been uneven, with a peak of 19.3 million NOK in 2019, followed by a sharp decline to 4.7 million NOK in 2021, before a gradual increase again in 2026. The industry shows signs of gradual stabilization, but with significant challenges in a competitive market situation.

Sales Development:

• 2016: 18.3 million NOK
• 2017: 18.7 million NOK
• 2018: 19.2 million NOK
• 2019: 19.3 million NOK (peak)
• 2020: 10.3 million NOK
• 2021: 4.7 million NOK
• 2026: 16 million NOK

Workforce Development:

• 2016: 82 employees
• 2025: 13 employees
• 2026: 20 employees

Sales have been most stable from 2016 to 2019, followed by a sharp decline in 2020 and 2021, likely influenced by external factors such as the pandemic. The workforce decline has been significant, but with an increase in 2026 that may indicate a gradual recovery. The industry therefore has an uneven economic history with both strong and weak periods.

The following companies are registered in the Asian restaurant industry in Bærum:

1. Skb As (Stabekk, 15 employees, founded 2020)
2. Lille Bang As (Høvik, 7 employees, founded 2025)
3. King City As (Sandvika, 0 employees, founded 1994) – shows positive financial results
4. Rey Invest As (Lysaker, 0 employees, founded 2018) – shows negative EBITDA values

The organizational form for all companies is AS. King City As has a high EBITDA margin (58%) and positive operating result, while Rey Invest As has negative financial results. This shows a large variation in financial health among companies in the industry.

The Asian restaurant operations in Bærum are distributed as follows:

• Stabekk: 1 company, 15 employees
• Høvik: 1 company, 7 employees

There is no data on operations in other parts of Bærum. This suggests that the industry is currently limited to these two areas, even though Bærum has a broader geographic structure. There may be potential for development in other parts of the municipality, especially in areas with high population density and cultural diversity.

The industry has been marked by significant variations in financial health:

• King City As has a high EBITDA margin (58%) and positive operating result, indicating a stable operation.
• Rey Invest As has negative EBITDA values and a negative operating result, which may indicate economic challenges.

None of the companies are registered as bankrupt, but financial challenges are evident in some businesses. This shows that the industry has both strong and weak actors, and that financial stability can be a challenge for new actors.

Outlook for the Asian Restaurant Industry

The industry shows signs of gradual stabilization, with an increase in sales from 4.7 million NOK in 2021 to 16 million NOK in 2026. This may indicate a gradual recovery after a sharp decline in 2020-2021. For new actors, there may be opportunities in areas with high population density and cultural diversity, especially in Sandvika and Lysaker. However, it is important to be aware of competition and financial challenges in the industry.

Outlook for the Restaurant and Café Industry in Bærum

Parent category (restaurant/café):

• Sales: 369.1 million NOK in 2016 → 389.2 million NOK in 2025
• Workforce: 1193 employees in 2016 → 1113 employees in 2025

Peer companies in the parent category:

• Sandvika Sushi As (16.4 million NOK in sales, 6.9 million NOK in EBITDA)
• Norsand As (31.2 million NOK in sales, 3.5 million NOK in EBITDA)
• Bambus Sushi As (21.5 million NOK in sales, 3.2 million NOK in EBITDA)

The parent category shows a more stable development compared to the Asian restaurant industry, with higher total sales and more even workforce development. This suggests that the restaurant and café industry in Bærum has a better economic structure and larger market share than the Asian restaurant industry.

The Asian restaurant industry in Bærum has an uneven history with both strong and weak periods, but shows signs of gradual stabilization. With an increase in sales and workforce in 2026, there may be opportunities for new actors in the industry, especially in areas with high population density and cultural diversity. However, it is important to be aware of competition and financial challenges. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Bærum for Asian restaurant operations, with a focus on natural development areas.