Industry · municipality
Asian Restaurant Industry in Lillesand: Current Status and Future Outlook
Analysis of companies, statistics, and opportunities for entrepreneurs and local decision-makers in Lillesand, Agder
Executive Summary
Overview of the Asian Restaurant Industry in Lillesand
The Asian restaurant industry in Lillesand is a small but growing sector with one registered company: Nang Thai Takeaway As. Over the past five years, the number of employees in the sector has increased from 0 to 6 in 2026, although sales data for all years shows 0 NOK. This indicates that the sector is in an early stage of development, with a focus on organization and operational startup. At the same time, data from the broader restaurant/café category in Lillesand shows a more stable, but fluctuating sector with over 20 companies.
SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore potential addresses in Lillesand for this sector, with a focus on natural conditions and market opportunities.
Economic Overview
Sales Development:
- Sales data for Asian restaurants in Lillesand shows 0 NOK for all years from 2016 to 2026. This may be due to Nang Thai Takeaway As being in an early stage of operations or data not being available.
Employee Development:
- The number of employees has grown from 0 in 2016 to 6 in 2026, with a 50% increase from 2024 to 2025. Annual fluctuations (e.g., -25% from 2022 to 2023) suggest operational challenges or organizational changes.
Comparison with Broader Sector:
- The broader restaurant/café sector in Lillesand had total sales of 111.6 million NOK in 2025, with a 19.6% decline compared to 2024. Employees in this sector have been more stable, with 189 employees in 2026.



Companies in the Sector
Nang Thai Takeaway As is the only registered company in the Asian restaurant industry in Lillesand. It is an AS company established on June 27, 2025, with 5 employees and no bankruptcies. The company is registered at Eineråsen 17A, Lillesand.
Organizational Form:
- 100% of companies in the sector are AS companies. There is no data on other organizational forms (e.g., sole proprietorships or partnerships) in this sector.
Business Geography
Lillesand is the only neighborhood/area in the municipality with activity in the Asian restaurant industry. There is 1 registered company and 5 employees in this area. There is no data on sales or operational results for this neighborhood.

Business Dynamics
Bankruptcies:
- There are no registered bankruptcies in the Asian restaurant industry in Lillesand from 2016 to 2026. This suggests that the sector is relatively stable, even though sales data is missing.
Operational Challenges:
- Fluctuations in the number of employees (e.g., -25% from 2022 to 2023) may be due to operational challenges or organizational changes. There is no data on the causes of these fluctuations.
Development:
- A 50% increase in the number of employees from 2024 to 2025 indicates growth in operational activity, even though sales data remains 0.
Outlook
Outlook for the Asian Restaurant Industry in Lillesand
Growth Potential:
- With an increase from 0 to 6 employees over five years, the data suggests that the sector has potential for further growth. This could be particularly relevant in a municipality like Lillesand, where tourism and local economy can provide opportunities for specialized restaurants.
Market Challenges:
- Missing sales data and a single company in the sector indicate an early stage of development. Entrepreneurs should consider competition from the broader restaurant/café sector, which has over 20 companies in Lillesand.
SmartGrunder's Role:
- SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs identify natural conditions and market opportunities for Asian restaurants in Lillesand, with a focus on operational strategy and local adaptation.
Outlook for the Broader Sector
Outlook for the Broader Sector (Restaurant/Café)
Comparison with Asian Restaurant:
- The broader restaurant/café sector in Lillesand has a more stable development, with over 20 companies and total sales of 111.6 million NOK in 2025. This is a clear contrast to the single Asian restaurant in Lillesand.
Peer Companies in the Sector:
- Examples of companies in the restaurant/café sector in Lillesand include:
- Hos Oss Lillesand As (sales: 17.4 million NOK, EBITDA: 2.6 million NOK)
- Lillesand Pizza As (sales: 7.4 million NOK, EBITDA: 604,000 NOK)
- Ikea As Cafe Sørlandet (sales: 79.7 million NOK, EBITDA: 3.0 million NOK)
Challenges:
- The broader sector has been marked by a decline in sales (19.6% from 2024 to 2025), which could affect competition for new companies in Lillesand.



Other companies in restaurant / kafé (not in asian restaurant)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ikea As Cafe Sørlandet | cafe | Sydinga 20, 4636 Kristiansand | NOK 79.7M | 37 | NOK 3.0M |
| Hos Oss Lillesand As | restaurant | Havnegata 3, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 17.4M | 36 | NOK 2.6M |
| Lillesand Pizza As | restaurant | Havnegata 1, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 7.4M | 11 | NOK 604.0K |
| Brekkekjærhaven As | restaurant | Morgans vei 4, 4780 Brekkestø | NOK 139.0K | 0 | NOK 12.0K |
| Brygga Kro & Restaurant V/ Monika B. Sæthre | restaurant | v/ Brygga Kro & Restaurant|c/o Skottevik Feriesenter|Fylkesvei 222 8, 4770 Høvåg | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Brygga Restaurant | restaurant | Skottevik, 4770 Høvåg | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Dansken Stubberud | restaurant | Strandgata 2, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 4 | NOK 0 |
| Fjordkroa Stranda As | cafe | Lauvigveien 10, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 25 | NOK 0 |
| Horisonten Conference Catering & Cafe As | cafe | Jernbanegata 10, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 15 | NOK 0 |
| Håbestad Have As | restaurant | Morgans vei 4, 4780 Brekkestø | NOK 0 | 9 | NOK 0 |
| Kebab House Sørlandsparken As | restaurant | c/o Odisho Ishak Ishak|Fagertunveien 72, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 7 | NOK 0 |
| Matvognen As | restaurant | Senterveien 10, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Styvi Kafe Kolding | restaurant | Strandgata 13, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Toscana Restaurante Ans | restaurant | Brentemogate 1, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Trav & Event As | restaurant | Travparkveien 20, 4636 Kristiansand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Tungis Holding As | restaurant | Grøgårdsmyrveien 19, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 2 | NOK 0 |
| Lillesand Musikkpub Og Restaurant As | restaurant | Vestregate 7, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 203.0K | 0 | NOK -35.0K |
| Geheb Conditori Lillesand As | restaurant | Vestregate 6, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 4.1M | 11 | NOK -50.0K |
| Motell Sørlandet As | restaurant | Vallesverdveien 800, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK -96.0K |
| Heimdal As | restaurant | c/o Hos oss Lillesand|Havnegata 3, 4790 | NOK 97.0K | 0 | NOK -482.0K |
| Restaurant Sjøbua As | restaurant | Strandgata 8, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 13.9M | 61 | NOK -691.0K |
| Madverket As | restaurant | Storgata 2D, 4790 Lillesand | NOK 11.1M | 0 | NOK -1.1M |
Conclusion
The Asian restaurant industry in Lillesand is a small but growing sector with potential for further development. With a single company (Nang Thai Takeaway As) and an increase in the number of employees, the sector can become part of the municipality's local economy. At the same time, data from the broader restaurant/café sector shows that competition can be strong, with over 20 companies and a more stable sales development.
Entrepreneurs should consider both the opportunities and challenges in this sector, with a focus on operational strategy, local adaptation, and collaboration with existing companies. SmartGrunder can help identify natural conditions and market opportunities for new Asian restaurants in Lillesand.