The Electronics Retail Industry in Fredrikstad: Industry Analysis and Outlook

The electronics retail industry in Fredrikstad is a medium-sized industry with 8 registered companies in the municipality. Most of the companies are limited liability companies (AS), and they are distributed across two main areas: Rolvsøy and Fredrikstad. The industry has experienced both growth and decline over the years, with a sales peak in 2023 followed by a decline in 2025. Employment figures have shown a continuous decline since 2016. The industry has not experienced bankruptcy, but shows variations in profit margins and operating results.

Sales and employees over time

Sales (NOK):

• 2016: 304.7M
• 2023: 449.7M (peak)
• 2025: 433.8M (decline from 2023)

Employees:

• 2016: 145
• 2026: 98 (decline of 32% since 2016)

Annual changes

• Sales increased by +20.3% from 2022 to 2023, but fell -5.2% from 2024 to 2025.
• Employees have declined continuously, with an average annual decline of approximately 3.5% since 2016.

Registered companies in the industry

1. Elkjøp Fredrikstad (Rolvsøy) – 42 employees, sales of 295.1M NOK
2. Power Norge As (Rolvsøy) – 36 employees, sales of 133.2M NOK
3. Martinsen Og Sønn Elektro As (Fredrikstad) – 11 employees, sales of 31.6M NOK
4. Kjell & Co Norway (Rolvsøy) – 6 employees, sales of 10.3M NOK
5. Osflaten Hvitevarer (Rolvsøy) – 4 employees, sales of 11.5M NOK
6. Fibel As (Gamle Fredrikstad) – 0 employees, sales of 0 NOK
7. Hm Stranda Invest As (Manstad) – 0 employees, sales of 130.3M NOK
8. Kjøkkensenteret Viken As (Manstad) – 0 employees, sales of 0 NOK

Organizational forms

• AS (limited liability company): 5 companies, 99 employees, sales of 481.6M NOK

Distribution of activity in the municipality

1. Rolvsøy (4 companies, 88 employees):

• Sales: 450.0M NOK
• EBITDA margin: 2%
• Average sales per employee: 5.1M NOK

1. Fredrikstad (1 company, 11 employees):

• Sales: 31.6M NOK
• EBITDA margin: 6%
• Average sales per employee: 2.7M NOK

Conclusion: Rolvsøy is the most active area with higher sales and more companies, while Fredrikstad has a higher EBITDA margin per employee.

Operational efficiency and bankruptcy statistics

• Bankruptcy: No companies in the electronics retail industry have gone bankrupt in the municipality.
• Negative balances:
• Fibel As has 0 NOK in equity and 0 NOK in sales.
• Kjøkkensenteret Viken As has negative equity (-36.0K NOK) and negative EBITDA (-12.0K NOK).
• Stable companies:
• Elkjøp Fredrikstad has high equity (3.6M NOK) and positive EBITDA (3.5M NOK).
• Power Norge As has high sales growth (14%) and positive EBITDA (3.2M NOK).

Outlook for entrepreneurs

The electronics retail industry in Fredrikstad shows a mix of opportunities and challenges:

• Opportunities:
• Rolvsøy has high sales volume and more companies, which can provide synergies.
• The high EBITDA margin (2%) in Rolvsøy can be an advantage for new companies.
• Challenges:
• The decline in the number of employees (from 145 in 2016 to 98 in 2026) indicates a potential reduction in market share.
• Some companies have low EBITDA margins (e.g., 1% for Elkjøp Fredrikstad) and low sales growth (0% for Fibel As).
• Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in Rolvsøy, where there is greater activity, and focus on efficient operations to achieve higher EBITDA margins.

Comparison with agriculture

Agriculture (parent category) has:

• More companies: 56 companies (vs. 8 in the electronics retail industry)
• Higher sales: 742.8M NOK in 2024 (vs. 457.7M NOK for the electronics retail industry)
• Lower EBITDA margin: 1.6% (vs. 2% for the electronics retail industry)

Peer companies in agriculture:

• Telia Norge As (phone shop) – 5 employees, sales of 42.1M NOK, EBITDA of 16.9M NOK
• Synsam Fredrikstad (optician shop) – 17 employees, sales of 25.3M NOK, EBITDA of 4.7M NOK
• Alarmlink As (computer shop) – 13 employees, sales of 14.3M NOK, EBITDA of 2.5M NOK

Conclusion: Agriculture has larger volumes, but the electronics retail industry has better EBITDA margins in some cases. Entrepreneurs should consider combining strengths from both industries.

The electronics retail industry in Fredrikstad shows a mix of stability and challenges. With 8 companies and a focus on Rolvsøy, it is possible to find synergies in a more competitive industry. At the same time, data on lower EBITDA margins and declining employee numbers indicate a need for efficient operations. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in Rolvsøy and focus on innovation and operational efficiency. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and analyze market opportunities in the municipality.