Ethnic Grocery Stores in Harstad: A Detailed Analysis of the Industry

This article provides a detailed overview of the ethnic grocery store industry in Harstad, focusing on companies, economic trends, geographic distribution, and future perspectives. The data shows stable growth in the number of employees and a gradual increase in sales over the past few years, despite minor fluctuations. The industry is represented by two companies, and there are no registered bankruptcies. The article also compares the ethnic grocery store industry with the broader service sector in Harstad.

Economic Trends

Sales have grown from NOK 4.0 million in 2016 to NOK 8.3 million in 2023, with a slight decline in 2024. Number of employees has grown from 6 in 2016 to 15 in 2026, with an increase of 15.4% from 2025 to 2026. The table below shows detailed year-over-year changes:

The industry has shown general growth in both sales and number of employees, despite minor fluctuations over time.

Registered Companies

There are 2 companies in the ethnic grocery store industry in Harstad:

1. Asiatisk Matsenter As (Skilleveien 5, Harstad) – AS structure, established 1997, 13 employees.
2. Kamil's As (Rikard Kaarbøs gate 19, Harstad) – AS structure, established 2014, 2 employees.

Organizational Form

All companies in the industry are registered as AS (limited liability company), which indicates a certain level of stability and formal structure.

Geographic Distribution

All companies in the ethnic grocery store industry in Harstad are registered in Harstad. There are 2 companies and 15 employees in the municipality. There is no detailed breakdown by sub-areas in the data.

There are no registered bankruptcies in the ethnic grocery store industry in Harstad in recent years, indicating a stable industry. The number of employees has increased significantly from 2025 to 2026, and sales have shown a gradual increase over time. This shows that the industry has a certain level of dynamism and potential for further growth.

For entrepreneurs considering starting an ethnic grocery store in Harstad, the data indicates a growing market potential. There is a growing population and increasing interest in international cuisine, which can provide good market potential. There is also a certain level of stability in the industry, with no bankruptcies and a growing number of employees. This can be a good starting point for new companies in the area.

The ethnic grocery store industry is part of the broader service sector in Harstad, which has 53 companies in total. The service sector has a higher sales volume (NOK 10.05 billion in 2025) compared to the ethnic grocery store industry. However, the ethnic grocery store industry has shown more stable growth in the number of employees over time. Examples of companies in the service sector that are not ethnic grocery stores include:

• Eurospar Seljestad (sales: NOK 1.535 billion, EBITDA: NOK 63.8 million, 53 employees)
• Obs Harstad Stormarked 2375 (sales: NOK 261.1 million, EBITDA: NOK 14.3 million, 82 employees)
• Extra Seljestad 1957 (sales: NOK 66.5 million, EBITDA: NOK 3.7 million, 23 employees)

These companies have higher sales and EBITDA, but there is no direct comparison between them and the ethnic grocery store industry in the data.

The ethnic grocery store industry in Harstad shows stable growth in both sales and number of employees, with no bankruptcies. There are two companies in the industry, and both are registered as AS. The industry has potential for further growth, especially with an increasing population and interest in international cuisine. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Harstad for this industry.