Industry · municipality
The Bar Industry in Lillehammer: Economic Analysis and Outlook
A detailed analysis of businesses, economics, and development trends in the bar industry in Lillehammer, with a focus on opportunities for entrepreneurs and local decision-makers.
Economic Overview
The table below shows the development of sales and number of employees for the bar industry in Lillehammer over the past few years. There is a clear increase in sales from 2022 to 2025, with an increase of over 60%, while the number of employees has been more variable but shows an increase since 2023.
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5.5M | 25 |
| 2017 | 6.1M | 20 |
| 2018 | 4.6M | 14 |
| 2019 | 5.6M | 11 |
| 2020 | 4.9M | 9 |
| 2021 | 4.8M | 7 |
| 2022 | 7.3M | 8 |
| 2023 | 7.6M | 16 |
| 2024 | 9.6M | 20 |
| 2025 | 11.8M | 30 |
Sales have been most stable from 2016 to 2017, with an increase of 10.2%, before falling by 24.9% in 2018. There has been a gradual increase since 2022, with an increase of 23.7% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has been most stable from 2023 onward, with an increase of 50% from 2024 to 2025.
Companies in the Industry
There are four companies registered in the bar industry in Lillehammer. They are divided into two organizational forms: AS and ANS. The most significant companies are:
- Haakons Pub As (Storgata 95) – Operates with 14 employees and has an EBITDA margin of 27%.
- Out Of Bounds Lillehammer As (Fåberggata 115) – A new company established in 2022 with 19 employees, but has no sales or operating profit yet.
- Kaffebar As (Rustadvegen 120) – Has a negative EBITDA margin of -15%, which indicates challenges in operations.
- Toget Pub Ans (Jernbanegata 4B) – Has no employees or operating profit.
The table below shows organizational form statistics for the industry:
| Organizational Form | Number of Companies | Number of Employees | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS | 3 | 37 | 11.9M | 2.7M |
| ANS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Business Geography
The bar industry in Lillehammer is concentrated in the central areas of the municipality. The table below shows the distribution of businesses and employees per district:
| District | Number of Companies | Number of Employees | Operating Income (NOK) | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lillehammer | 3 | 37 | 12.0M | 11.9M | 2.7M |
Business Dynamics
There are no registered bankruptcies in the bar industry in Lillehammer, which shows relative stability in the sector. However, some companies show operational challenges, such as Kaffebar As, which has a negative EBITDA of -236,000 NOK. This may indicate that some companies have more difficulty achieving profitability, especially in relation to high wage costs and low operating income.
Haakons Pub As however has a strong financial position with an EBITDA margin of 27% and a positive operating profit of 2.9M NOK. This shows that it is possible to achieve profitability in the industry, even though there are variations between companies.
Outlook
For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the bar industry in Lillehammer, the data shows growth in sales and number of employees since 2022. This suggests that there is potential for development in the sector, especially with an increase of 23.7% in sales from 2024 to 2025. However, it is important to be aware of the variations in financial health between companies, as illustrated by Kaffebar As and Haakons Pub As.
An important factor for entrepreneurs will be to carefully analyze the market position, especially in relation to existing companies such as Haakons Pub As and Out Of Bounds Lillehammer As. It may be advantageous to establish oneself in areas with high competition, but it is also important to be aware of the economic challenges shown in the data.
Outlook for the Broader Industry (Bar / Club)
The broader industry bar / club in Lillehammer has a larger business base than the bar industry alone, with 6 companies in total. It shows stronger growth in the number of employees from 2025 to 2026, with an increase of 61.8%, compared to 13.3% in the bar industry. This suggests that the broader industry has a more stable development in the number of employees.
The table below shows the most important companies in the broader industry that are not included in the bar industry:
| Company | Address | EBITDA (NOK) | Number of Employees | Sales (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torill Bjørge | Elverhøivegen 3, 2613 Lillehammer | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wiesegården Drift As | Storgata 31, 2609 Lillehammer | 0 | 23 | 0 |
It is important to note that these companies have lower financial activity, which may affect competition in the sector. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider both the opportunities and challenges in relation to both the bar industry and the broader industry bar / club.
Other companies in bar / klubb (not in bar)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torill Bjørge | pub | Elverhøivegen 3, 2613 Lillehammer | NOK 0 | 1 | NOK 0 |
| Wiesegården Drift As | pub | Storgata 31, 2609 Lillehammer | NOK 0 | 23 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion
The bar industry in Lillehammer shows growth in sales and number of employees since 2022, which suggests potential for further development. However, there are variations in financial health between companies, which entrepreneurs must be aware of. The broader industry bar / club has a larger business base and a more stable development in the number of employees, which can be an important factor to consider.
For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in Lillehammer, it is important to analyze both the market position and financial challenges. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and assess opportunities in the municipality for this industry.