Gourmet Food Store in Arendal: Current Status and Outlook

Arendal currently has 3 companies in the gourmet food store industry, according to registered data. The industry has been marked by rising sales in 2018 (NOK 362.4K), followed by a sharp decline to NOK 0 in 2020 and onwards. Employment development has been static – only 1 employee in 2023 and 2024. The industry is a small part of the broader services group in the municipality, which has shown greater dynamism in sales and employees over time. Prospects for new players may be challenging, but local conditions and niche specialization could offer opportunities.

Sales for gourmet food stores in Arendal have been rising in 2018 (NOK 362.4K), but have collapsed to NOK 0 in 2020 and onwards. This decline is stronger than documented in most years (see table below).

Employment development has been static – only 1 employee in 2023 and 2024, despite 3 companies being registered. This suggests that companies either operate with few employees or have not started operations.

Causes of the decline may include bankruptcies, lack of operational activity, or competitive markets.

There are 3 companies registered in Arendal within the gourmet food store industry:

1. Bbq Norway As (His, Gjervoldsøyveien 63) – AS entity, established 2021, no bankruptcy, 0 employees, 0 sales.
2. Halal Matbutikk Hussein Mohamud Hassan (Arendal, Blødekjær 7) – ENK entity, established 2023, no bankruptcy, 0 employees, 0 sales.
3. Pasto Import V/ Karen Brit Valle (Arendal, Kongleveien 16) – ENK entity, established 2004, no bankruptcy, 0 employees, 0 sales.

Organizational forms are mainly ENK (sole proprietorship) and AS (limited liability company). None of the companies have reported operating results or EBITDA in the data.

The 3 companies in the industry are located in the following areas in Arendal:

• Arendal: 2 companies (Halal Matbutikk and Pasto Import).
• His: 1 company (Bbq Norway As).

There is no data on distribution in other areas of the municipality. Arendal is the capital of the municipality and has the highest company activity in the industry.

Bankruptcies are not registered for any of the 3 companies in the industry. This suggests that the companies have not gone bankrupt during the recorded years. Nevertheless, sales and employment have been static – no operational activity in most years.

Prospects for new players may be challenging due to:

• Lack of operational activity in existing companies.
• Competitive markets such as supermarkets and discount stores (see parent-outlook).
• Lack of employees in the industry (only 1 employee in 2023–2024).

For new players in the gourmet food store industry in Arendal, prospects may be limited, but not impossible. Key success factors could be:

• Niche specialization in the market (e.g., specializing in halal, vegan, or exotic ingredients).
• Local conditions such as Arendal’s tourism industry and culture could offer opportunities for specialized stores.
• Partnerships with local food and cultural events.

Lack of operational activity in existing companies may indicate opportunities for new players wishing to establish themselves in the industry.

Services group in Arendal has greater dynamism than the gourmet food store industry. In 2025, the services sector had NOK 1979.4M sales and 853 employees. This is greater than the gourmet food store industry, which had NOK 0 sales and 1 employee in 2024.

Peer companies in the services group include:

• Obs Arendal Avd 200 (supermarket chain, NOK 226.8M sales, 69 employees, NOK 11.9M EBITDA).
• Mega Arendal Avd 43 (supermarket chain, NOK 101.7M sales, 35 employees, NOK 5.3M EBITDA).
• Ng Kiwi Agder As Avd 727 Stoa Øst (supermarket chain, NOK 81.8M sales, 26 employees, NOK 4.1M EBITDA).

Competition from these companies may be challenging for new gourmet food store players, but niche specialization could offer opportunities.

Gourmet food store industry in Arendal has great potential, but challenges in the form of lack of operational activity and competitive markets. New players must focus on niche specialization, local conditions, and innovation to establish themselves. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses and strategies to succeed in this industry in Arendal.