Ethnic Grocery Stores in Indre Østfold: An Analysis of Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

Industry Overview

The ethnic grocery store industry in Indre Østfold is a small and weakly active sector with only two registered companies. Sales and employment numbers have been highly unstable, with a significant decline after 2018. The industry shows no clear growth or stabilization in recent years, which may indicate challenges related to competition, customers, and economic conditions. At the same time, the broader services sector in the municipality shows a more stable development with increasing numbers of employees and sales, which may provide a basis for future development in the ethnic grocery store industry.

Sales:

• 2017: NOK 3.8 million (highest level)
• 2018: NOK 3.5 million
• 2019–2026: NOK 0 (sharp decline of 100% from 2018)

Number of Employees:

• 2018: 1 employee
• 2019–2026: 0 employees (decline of 100% from 2018)

This data shows a sharp decline in both sales and employees after 2018. There is no clear growth or stabilization in recent years, which may indicate challenges related to operations, competition, or customers in the area.

In Indre Østfold, there are 2 companies registered in the ethnic grocery store industry:

1. Filnor Supermarket Mevelyn Hansen (Hølandsveien 76, Trøgstad)

• Organizational form: ENK
• Founded: 2021-01-19
• Number of employees: 0
• Sales: NOK 0
• EBITDA: NOK 0

1. Smultringen As (Krosbyveien 121, Mysen)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2020-11-06
• Number of employees: 0
• Sales: NOK 0
• EBITDA: NOK 0

Both companies have no employees and no sales after 2018. There is no clear operational activity in the industry in the municipality.

The two companies in the ethnic grocery store industry are located at the following places in Indre Østfold:

• Trøgstad: Filnor Supermarket Mevelyn Hansen (Hølandsveien 76)
• Mysen: Smultringen As (Krosbyveien 121)

The industry has a very scattered presence in the municipality, but with very low activity. There are no clear centers or concentrations of companies in the industry.

Bankruptcy Security:

• No companies in the industry are registered as bankrupt in the data.

Operational Activity:

• Both companies have 0 employees and 0 sales after 2018, which indicates that they have not been in operation for a long time.

Conclusion: The industry shows no clear operational capability or dynamism. There is no growth, and there are no clear signs that the companies have been in operation after 2018. This may indicate challenges related to operations, competition, or customers in the area.

Development in the Ethnic Grocery Store Industry

The ethnic grocery store industry in Indre Østfold has been marked by a sharp decline in both sales and number of employees after 2018. There is no clear growth or stabilization in recent years, which may indicate challenges related to operations, competition, or customers in the area. This may be a challenge for entrepreneurs considering starting a new business in the industry in the municipality. However, it is possible that there is a need for such stores in the area, and it may be possible to find a solution to the challenges that have affected the industry in recent years.

Development in the Services Sector

The broader services sector in Indre Østfold has shown a more stable development compared to the ethnic grocery store industry. The number of employees in the services sector has increased by 3.0% from 2025 to 2026, and sales have been more stable over time. In 2020, the services sector had sales of NOK 1,715 million, which is significantly higher than the maximum sales in the ethnic grocery store industry (NOK 3.8 million in 2017).

Peer Companies in the Services Sector:

• Coop Øst Sa Avd 2224 Obs Slitu (Morstongveien 47, 1859 Slitu): NOK 149.9 million in sales, NOK 6.0 million in EBITDA, 49 employees
• Ng Kiwi Øst As Avd 378 Askim (Haugomgata 19, 1811 Askim): NOK 101.8 million in sales, NOK 4.6 million in EBITDA, 29 employees
• Grålum Mat As (Stasjonsgate 30-32, 1820 Spydeberg): NOK 72.2 million in sales, NOK 4.1 million in EBITDA, 16 employees

These companies show much higher operational efficiency and more stable development compared to the ethnic grocery store industry in Indre Østfold.

The ethnic grocery store industry in Indre Østfold is a small and weakly active sector with only two registered companies. Sales and number of employees have been highly unstable, with a significant decline after 2018. The industry shows no clear growth or stabilization in recent years, which may indicate challenges related to competition, customers, and economic conditions. At the same time, the broader services sector in the municipality shows a more stable development with increasing numbers of employees and sales, which may provide a basis for future development in the ethnic grocery store industry. Entrepreneurs considering starting a new business in the industry in the municipality should carefully consider these challenges.