The Fish Warehouse Industry in Bergen: Current Status and Future Outlook

The fish warehouse industry in Bergen shows a mix of stability and variation. With 18 registered companies in the municipality, including both established players and newer companies, the industry is part of Bergen's economic structure. In recent years, the industry has experienced both growth and challenges, with an average annual sales growth of 17% from 2016 to 2024. However, there have been periods of decline, such as in 2025 when sales fell by 29.2%. This shows that the industry is sensitive to market conditions and economic cycles. At the same time, several companies have high EBITDA margins (up to 24%) and labor costs that account for 17-30% of sales, indicating a relatively good wage structure in the sector.

From 2016 to 2024, sales in the fish warehouse industry in Bergen grew by 17% annually, peaking at NOK 59.9 million in 2024. However, there was a significant decline in 2025, when sales dropped to NOK 42.4 million. This indicates some uncertainty in the industry. Regarding employees, there has been a more stable development, with an average annual growth of 4.5% from 2016 to 2022, followed by a decline of 34.3% in 2023. In 2025, the industry had 71 employees, which is a 7% increase compared to 2024. This suggests that the industry has a certain degree of stabilization after a period of decline.

There are 18 companies in the fish warehouse industry in Bergen, with the most well-known being Hildegunn På Torget As, Bernard Torghandel As Avd Torghandel, and Bergenfisk As. These companies have a combination of high sales revenues and relatively high EBITDA margins. For example, Bergenfisk As had an EBITDA margin of 24% in 2024, which is higher than the industry average. There are also several companies with the organizational form AS, which is the most common form in the industry. There are also several companies that have been established in recent years, such as Fokus Tm As (2021) and Makrellkongen Seg (2025), showing that the industry is still active in Bergen.

The fish warehouse industry in Bergen is most active in Bergen city center, where there are 3 companies with a total of 64 employees and sales revenues of NOK 30.1 million. In Haukeland, there is 1 company with 22 employees and sales revenues of NOK 19.6 million. In Nesttun, there is 1 company with 1 employee and sales revenues of NOK 3.0 million. This shows that the industry is most concentrated in Bergen city center, with less activity in the periphery. There is also a clear difference in financial health between companies in Bergen and Haukeland, where companies in Bergen have higher EBITDA margins and lower debt levels.

The industry has been relatively stable in terms of bankruptcy, with only one company report showing negative EBITDA values (Nesttun Fisk & Vilt As). This company had an EBITDA of -NOK 100,000 in 2024, indicating a financial challenge. However, there are no reported bankruptcies in the industry, showing that the companies have been able to handle the challenges. There are also several companies that have been established in recent years, indicating that the industry is still active and attractive to new players.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a fish warehouse in Bergen, the data show both opportunities and challenges. The industry has a relatively high EBITDA margin (average 17%) and a stable wage structure (17-30% of sales). This suggests that it is possible to achieve good cost management. At the same time, there are several companies with high sales revenues, indicating a good market for fish warehouses in Bergen. However, there are also challenges, such as the sharp decline in sales in 2025, which may indicate that the industry is sensitive to market conditions and economic cycles.

Compared to the broader services sector in Bergen, which has 586 companies and total sales of NOK 11,567 million in 2025, the fish warehouse industry is a smaller but more specialized sector. The services sector has a lower average EBITDA margin (16%) compared to the fish warehouse industry (17%), but has a higher number of employees (5,761 in 2026). This shows that the services sector is more extensive, but the fish warehouse industry has a better wage structure. There are also more companies in the services sector with high sales revenues, such as Obs Horisont (NOK 372 million) and Travel Retail Norway As Avd Bergen Lufthavn (NOK 639.4 million). This shows that the services sector has a broader variation in company size and sales revenues.

The fish warehouse industry in Bergen shows a mix of stability and variation. With a relatively high EBITDA margin and a stable wage structure, the industry is an attractive sector for entrepreneurs. At the same time, there are challenges, such as the sharp decline in sales in 2025, which may indicate that the industry is sensitive to market conditions and economic cycles. However, there are opportunities to establish oneself in Bergen, especially with the established companies that have shown good financial health. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Bergen for fish warehouses, based on data and market analyses.