The Fish Shop Industry in Trondheim: Current Status and Outlook

The fish shop industry in Trondheim consists of two registered companies and shows a mix of stability and challenges. The industry has experienced both growth and decline over the years, with a significant reduction in sales and number of employees after 2021. At the same time, there has been a gradual decline in the number of employees after 2022, indicating a weak stabilization. Prospects for new players will depend on how well they can adapt to market conditions and compete in an industry with a limited number of players.

Sales and Employees in the Fish Shop Industry

• Sales: The industry reached a peak in 2021 with sales of NOK 24.4 million, but fell by 48.5% in 2022 to NOK 12.6 million. There has been a gradual recovery since, with an increase of 10.1% in 2025.
• Employees: The number of employees has fallen from 54 in 2016 to 17 in 2025, with a sharp decline of 35.3% between 2021 and 2022. There are now 17 employees in the industry, distributed across two companies.

Economic Indicators

• EBITDA margins are very low or negative for both companies, with a margin of 1% for Fiskhandler'n Heimdal As and -12% for City Partners As.
• Operating profits are negative for both companies, indicating challenges in cost management and operational results.

Registered Companies in the Fish Shop Industry

1. Fiskhandler'n Heimdal As

• Address: Søbstadvegen 4, Heimdal
• Founded: February 15, 1996
• Number of employees: 16
• Organizational form: AS
• Sales: NOK 12.9 million (2024)
• EBITDA: NOK 148,000

1. City Partners As

• Address: Sverre Svendsens veg 38, Ranheim
• Founded: June 20, 2012
• Number of employees: 1
• Organizational form: AS
• Sales: NOK 2.0 million (2024)
• EBITDA: NOK -246,000

Organizational Forms

• Both companies are registered as AS, indicating a dominance of this form in the industry.

Distribution of Activity in the Municipality

• Heimdal: 1 company, 16 employees, sales of NOK 12.9 million, operating profit of NOK -210,000.
• Ranheim: 1 company, 1 employee, sales of NOK 2.0 million, operating profit of NOK -280,000.

Geographical Trends

• Heimdal has a significantly larger operation compared to Ranheim, with both higher sales and number of employees.
• There are no indications that activities have spread to other areas in the municipality.

Bankruptcies and Operational Results

• Bankruptcies: None of the companies in the industry are registered as bankrupt, indicating a certain level of stability.
• Operational Results: Fiskhandler'n Heimdal As has a positive EBITDA of NOK 148,000, while City Partners As has a negative EBITDA of NOK -246,000. This shows significant variations in operational results between the companies.

Operational Challenges

• Both companies have negative operating profits, which may indicate high operating costs or low sales margins.
• There are no indications that the industry has been affected by major operational challenges such as bankruptcy or significant declines in the number of employees over time.

Outlook for New Entrants

• Sales Development: The industry has experienced a sharp decline in sales after 2021, but there has been a gradual recovery since 2022. This may indicate a possible stabilization in the market.
• Employees: The number of employees has fallen sharply, but there is now a stabilization with 17 employees in 2025. This may indicate that the industry has reached a minimum level for the number of employees.
• Competitiveness: With only two companies in the industry, there may be opportunities for new entrants who want to establish themselves, especially if they can adapt to market conditions and compete on price and quality.

Recommendations for Entrepreneurs

• Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on cost management and efficient operations to ensure a positive EBITDA.
• It may be possible to establish oneself in a market sector with limited bankruptcy risk, but it is important to be aware of operational challenges such as negative operating profits.

Comparison with the Services Sector

• Number of Companies: The services sector has 394 companies, while the fish shop industry has only 2 companies. This shows that the services sector is much larger and more diversified.
• Sales: The services sector had a turnover of NOK 70.95 billion in 2016, while the fish shop industry had a turnover of NOK 18.7 million in the same year. This shows that the services sector has a much larger market share.
• Employees: The services sector had 3,443 employees in 2016, while the fish shop industry had 54 employees in the same year. This shows that the services sector has a much larger workforce.

Peer Companies in the Services Sector

• Coop Midt Norge Sa Avd Obs Lade Varehus: Sales of NOK 942.8 million, EBITDA of NOK 50.9 million, 176 employees.
• Coop Midt Norge Sa Avd Obs City Syd Varehus: Sales of NOK 819.4 million, EBITDA of NOK 44.2 million, 152 employees.
• Meny Moholt: Sales of NOK 293.0 million, EBITDA of NOK 15.2 million, 142 employees.

Conclusion

• The services sector has a much larger market share and more companies compared to the fish shop industry. This shows that the services sector is more stable and diversified. The fish shop industry, however, has a lower bankruptcy risk and may be a potential market sector for new entrants who want to establish themselves.

The fish shop industry in Trondheim shows a mix of stability and challenges. With two companies and a gradual decline in sales and number of employees after 2021, there may be opportunities for new entrants who want to establish themselves in a market sector with limited bankruptcy risk. At the same time, the services sector shows a much larger market share and more companies, indicating a more stable and diversified sector. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on cost management and efficient operations to ensure a positive EBITDA and competitiveness in a market sector with limited bankruptcy risk. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Trondheim for the fish shop industry.