Burger Restaurants in Oslo: Key Figures, Companies, and Opportunities

The burger restaurant industry in Oslo is a dynamic but variable sector with 12 registered companies in the municipality. In recent years, the industry has shown both strength and challenges, with a combination of high EBITDA margins for some businesses and negative results for others. There are no registered bankruptcies in the sector, but variations in operating results and wage expenses show that the market is differentiated. The industry is strongly represented in Oslo, with a focus on AS organizational forms and an average wage level of approximately 2.5 million per employee. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find strategic addresses in Oslo for burger restaurants with good visibility.

Economic trends

Sales and employees:

Sales experienced a sharp decline of 43.5% in 2020, but recovered with +40.1% in 2021. In 2022, a new peak of 211.3M NOK was achieved, followed by a mild decline in 2023 and 2024. The number of employees increased by +33.6% from 2016 to 2017, but dropped sharply by -28.9% in 2019. There is a clear connection between sales and employees, with an increase in the number of employees in years of rising sales and a decrease in years of falling sales.

Key financial figures:

• Average EBITDA margin: 8% (2022)
• Average gross profit margin: 177% (2022)
• Average operating profit margin: 7% (2022)

Registered companies

Oslo has 12 registered burger restaurants, with a combination of AS and ENK organizational forms. The most represented companies are:

1. Ø Hallen Pubdrift As (Jernbanetorget 1) – 39 employees, EBITDA 13.7M NOK, EBITDA margin 22%
2. Bjørvika Bistro As (Operagata 6) – 32 employees, EBITDA 3.2M NOK, EBITDA margin 8%
3. Små Gryter As (Lille Stranden 10) – 31 employees, EBITDA 2.1M NOK, EBITDA margin 7%
4. Nina Helen Nilsen (Sognsveien 75A) – 28 employees, but no operating results reported
5. Vulkan Burgerbar As (Vulkan 12) – 24 employees, EBITDA -0.9M NOK, EBITDA margin -6%
6. Kverneriet & Friends As (Kirkeveien 64A) – 23 employees, EBITDA 1.1M NOK, EBITDA margin 4%

Organizational form:

• AS: 9 companies, 218 employees, EBITDA 17.5M NOK
• ENK: 1 company, 28 employees, no operating results

Geographic distribution

All 12 burger restaurants in Oslo are registered in the municipality, with a focus on the following areas:

• Oslo (10 companies): 246 employees, sales of 200.9M NOK, operating income of 14.5M NOK
• Municipal areas: Companies are distributed throughout the city, with a particular focus on central areas such as Jernbanetorget, Operagata, and Sognsveien.

Key figures for Oslo:

• Average sales per company: 20.1M NOK
• Average number of employees per company: 20.5
• Average EBITDA per company: 1.5M NOK

Bankruptcies: There are no registered bankruptcies in the burger restaurant industry in Oslo, which shows a relatively stable sector.

Operating results: Some companies have negative EBITDA, such as:

• Vulkan Burgerbar As (EBITDA -0.9M NOK)
• Troys Majorstuen As (EBITDA -1.2M NOK)
• Peoples Oslo As (EBITDA -0.058M NOK)

Positive results: Companies such as Ø Hallen Pubdrift As and Bjørvika Bistro As achieve high EBITDA margins (22% and 8% respectively). This shows that it is possible to achieve good results in the sector, but it requires effective cost control and high customer satisfaction.

The burger restaurant industry in Oslo shows both opportunities and challenges for new entrepreneurs. With 12 existing companies and an average EBITDA margin of 8%, it is possible to achieve profitability with the right positioning. Prospects are most promising in the years after 2022, where sales increased by +40.1% from 2021. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in areas with high customer traffic and focus on differentiation to compete with existing companies. It is also important to be aware of operational challenges, as shown by the negative EBITDA results of some companies.

Parent category: Restaurant / café has 2401 companies in Oslo, showing that the burger restaurant industry is part of a larger, more diversified sector. The broader category had a sales total of 105.36M NOK in 2023, with an average EBITDA margin of 8.5%.

Peer companies:

Conclusion: The broader category has higher sales and more companies, but the burger restaurant industry has a higher average EBITDA margin. Entrepreneurs should consider learning from the most profitable peer companies, but be aware that the burger restaurant industry is smaller than the broader category.

The burger restaurant industry in Oslo has shown both strength and challenges in recent years. With 12 companies and an average EBITDA margin of 8%, it is possible to achieve profitability with the right positioning. Prospects are most promising in the years after 2022, where sales increased by +40.1% from 2021. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in areas with high customer traffic and focus on differentiation to compete with existing companies. It is also important to be aware of operational challenges, as shown by the negative EBITDA results of some companies. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find strategic addresses in Oslo for burger restaurants with good visibility.