Ethnic Grocery Stores in Bærum: A Detailed Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

Ethnic grocery stores in Bærum represent a niche but active industry with 10 registered companies as of 2026. The sector has shown mixed performance over the past decade, with sales peaking at NOK 70.6M in 2020 before declining slightly to NOK 67.2M in 2025. Employee numbers have fluctuated, peaking at 48 in 2025 before dropping to 40 in 2026. Notably, one company, Gruppen 87 As, has filed for bankruptcy, highlighting challenges in the sector. Despite this, several companies, such as Hoang Asia Mat As and Kinsarvik Naturkost As, demonstrate resilience with positive EBITDA margins and stable operations.

Sales Development (2016–2025):

Wage Development (2016–2026):

The industry experienced strong growth in 2020, likely driven by increased demand for ethnic products during the pandemic. However, sales have since declined slightly, and employee numbers have shown significant volatility, particularly in 2018 and 2024.

Registered Companies (2026):

Company Type:

• AS (Stock Company): 3 companies, 36 employees, total sales NOK 67.6M.
• ENK (Sole Proprietorship): 7 companies, 0 employees, total sales NOK 0.

Bankrupt Companies:

• Gruppen 87 As (Rud) has reported a negative operating result and is in bankruptcy.

Business Locations in the Municipality:

Sandvika is the most active area with 2 companies and 32 employees, while Fornebu has one company with 4 employees, but no sales or operating income. This indicates that Sandvika is an important market for ethnic stores, while Fornebu has lower activity.

Bankruptcies and Operating Results:

• Gruppen 87 As (Rud) has reported a negative operating result of NOK -42.0K and is in bankruptcy. This may affect bankruptcies and operating results in the industry.

EBITDA Margins:

• Kinsarvik Naturkost As has a positive EBITDA margin of 1%.
• Asia Express As has a high EBITDA margin of 23%.
• Tewa As has a negative EBITDA margin of -105%, indicating significant operational challenges.

Operating Results:

• Stig Dalen Invest As has a negative operating result of NOK -163.0K.
• Hoang Asia Mat As has a negative operating result of NOK -1.6M.

Conclusion: The industry has both positive and negative operating results, with some companies achieving profitability and others facing significant challenges.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Opportunities and Challenges:

• Stable Markets: Sandvika has proven to be a stable area with multiple companies and employees, which can be an advantage for new entrepreneurs.
• Competitive Companies: Companies such as Kinsarvik Naturkost As and Asia Express As have demonstrated competitiveness with positive EBITDA margins.
• Bankruptcy Risk: It is important to be aware of bankruptcy risk, as illustrated by Gruppen 87 As.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in Sandvika, where there is greater activity and more companies. It is also important to analyze operating results and EBITDA margins to ensure profitability.

Services Sector in Bærum:

• Number of Companies: 218 companies in the services sector, compared to 10 companies in ethnic stores.
• Sales: The services sector had total sales of NOK 4740.9M in 2025, compared to NOK 67.2M for ethnic stores.
• Number of Employees: The services sector had 2085 employees in 2026, compared to 40 employees in ethnic stores.

Peer Companies in the Services Sector:

Conclusion: The services sector in Bærum is much larger than ethnic stores, with higher sales and more employees. This shows that the services sector has greater potential for growth and development.

Ethnic stores in Bærum have proven to be an active, but challenging industry. With 10 companies and total sales of NOK 67.2M in 2025, the sector is relatively small compared to the services sector. Nevertheless, there are opportunities for growth, especially in Sandvika, where there are more companies and employees. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in this area, but must also be aware of bankruptcy risks and operational challenges. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Bærum for ethnic stores.