Asian Restaurant Industry in Harstad: Current Status and Future Outlook

Overview of the Asian restaurant industry in Harstad

The Asian restaurant industry in Harstad is a small but dynamic sector with a single business: Rungfa Thai Food As. This business has shown stable growth in both sales and number of employees over time, with an EBITDA margin of 13% and a high gross profit of 64%. The industry is particularly interesting for entrepreneurs seeking to combine cultural uniqueness with economic viability in a municipality with a strong tourism sector and cultural diversity.

Sales and employee development:

• Sales: From NOK 876.0K in 2016 to NOK 5.1M in 2025, with a growth of +4.5% in 2024→2025. There is a significant increase from 2017 (NOK 717.0K) to 2018 (NOK 3.0M), but a decline in 2024 (NOK 4.9M) before an increase in 2025.
• Employees: From 3 in 2016 to 9 in 2026, with a growth of +28.6% in 2025→2026. There is a strong increase in 2018→2019 (+150%) and 2022→2023 (+40%), but also a decline in 2023→2024 (-28.6%).

Key figures:

• EBITDA margin: 13% (2025)
• Gross profit: 64%
• Operating margin: 11%
• Sales per employee: NOK 728.6K (2025)
• EBITDA per employee: NOK 96.6K (2025)

Conclusion: The industry has shown strong economic stability and growth, with high profitability and good efficiency per employee.

Rungfa Thai Food As is the only business in the industry in Harstad. It is registered at Rikard Kaarbøs gate 14, Harstad and has the following key figures:

• Organizational form: AS (founded 2011-01-04)
• Number of employees: 9 (2025)
• Sales: NOK 5.2M (2025)
• EBITDA: NOK 709.0K (2025)
• Total debt: NOK 3.3M
• Equity: NOK 258.0K
• Bankrupt: Not bankrupt

Organizational form statistics:

• AS: 1 company, 9 employees, NOK 5.2M in sales, NOK 709.0K in EBITDA.

Conclusion: The industry is dominated by one company with good economic stability and high efficiency.

Harstad is the only location in the municipality with activity in the industry. There is a clear concentration of activity in the city center, with Rungfa Thai Food As located at Rikard Kaarbøs gate 14. This is a strategic location in a municipality with a large tourism industry and cultural diversity, which can be an advantage for future entrepreneurs.

Bankruptcies and stability:

• No bankruptcies in the industry in Harstad over time, which shows a high degree of economic stability.

Growth and decline:

• Sales: Highest growth in 2018→2019 (+17.7%), but a decline in 2023→2024 (-4.9%).
• Employees: Highest growth in 2018→2019 (+150%), but a decline in 2023→2024 (-28.6%).

Conclusion: The industry has shown both strong growth and periods of decline, but has remained afloat without bankruptcy. This indicates good adaptability and a stable customer base.

Future outlook for entrepreneurs

Opportunities:

• Growing sales: Sales have grown from NOK 876.0K in 2016 to NOK 5.1M in 2025, with a growth of +4.5% in 2024→2025.
• Growing number of employees: From 3 in 2016 to 9 in 2026, with a growth of +28.6% in 2025→2026.
• High profitability: EBITDA margin of 13% and gross profit of 64%.

Challenges: Competition from other restaurants and cafes in the municipality can be a challenge, but the industry has proven to be robust and stable.

Conclusion: The Asian restaurant industry in Harstad has good potential for further growth, especially with high profitability and a stable customer base. Entrepreneurs should consider leveraging the municipality's tourism industry and cultural conditions.

Economic comparison:

• Sales: NOK 225.9M in 2025 (industry: NOK 5.1M), with a growth of +2.4% in 2024→2025.
• Employees: 421 in 2026 (industry: 9), with a growth of +6.9% in 2025→2026.

Peer companies:

• Egon Harstad As: NOK 30.0M in sales, NOK 4.6M in EBITDA, 29 employees.
• Obs Harstad Kafe 5260: NOK 57.0M in sales, NOK 3.1M in EBITDA, 20 employees.
• Bark Spiseri Og Bar As: NOK 21.3M in sales, NOK 2.7M in EBITDA, 24 employees.

Conclusion: The Asian restaurant industry is a small part of the broader restaurant/cafe sector in Harstad. It has good economic stability, but competition from larger companies can be a challenge.

The Asian restaurant industry in Harstad has proven to be a stable and growth-oriented sector with a single business that has shown good economic performance. The industry has potential for further growth, especially with high profitability and a stable customer base. Entrepreneurs should consider leveraging the municipality's tourism industry and cultural conditions. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Harstad for this industry, with a focus on natural conditions and market prospects.