Gourmet Food Store in Bergen: An Analysis of the Industry, Companies, and Outlooks

The gourmet food store industry in Bergen is characterized by both stable and dynamic trends. In 2026, there are 27 registered companies in the municipality, employing 67 people and generating annual revenue of 52 million NOK. The industry has been marked by fluctuations over time, with a significant decline in 2019 (61%) and a gradual increase since 2021. The most prominent companies are located in Bergen city center, while activity also exists in areas such as Ulset, Rådal, and Indre Arna. EBITDA margins stand at 4%, indicating that operating profit is relatively low compared to revenue. This underscores the need for efficient cost management and differentiation in a competitive market.

Over time, the gourmet food store industry in Bergen has shown fluctuations in revenue and number of employees. From 2016 to 2026, revenue has ranged between 52 million NOK (2025) and 135 million NOK (2016), with a decline of 61% in 2019. The number of employees has varied between 52 and 110, with an increase of 28.8% from 2025 to 2026. EBITDA margins have been at 4% in 2026, while operating profit per employee stood at 45.8 NOK. The highest revenue growth rates have been in Indre Arna (13%) and Rådal (12%), which may indicate potential growth areas.

In Bergen, there are 27 companies in the gourmet food store industry, with the following dominant organizational forms:

The most well-known companies include:

• Colonialen Fetevare As (Strandgaten 18, Bergen): 19 employees, 17.2 million NOK in revenue
• Sunkost Bergen Storsenter (Strømgaten 8, Bergen): 13 employees, 15.1 million NOK in revenue
• Naturkost Åsane Senter As (Åsane Senter 42, Ulset): 6 employees, 6.5 million NOK in revenue
• Olivenlunden As Avd Lagunen Bergen (Lagunen Storsenter, Rådal): 5 employees, 4.0 million NOK in revenue
• Naturkost As (Øyrane Torg, Indre Arna): 3 employees, 4.2 million NOK in revenue

Several companies have high revenue but low or negative EBITDA, which may indicate high operating costs or low product margins.

The industry is most active in Bergen city center, with 4 companies and 56 employees. Other areas with activity include:

Bergen has the highest revenue and EBITDA, while Ulset and Indre Arna have negative EBITDA values. Rådal has the highest revenue per employee (1417%), but also a negative EBITDA.

The industry has been marked by fluctuations in operating profit, with some companies achieving positive EBITDA values and others showing negative figures. For example:

• Colonialen Fetevare As has a positive EBITDA of 418 thousand NOK
• Naturkost Åsane Senter As has a negative EBITDA of -63 thousand NOK
• Olivenlunden As Avd Lagunen Bergen has a negative EBITDA of -4.4 thousand NOK

There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but several companies have low or negative EBITDA, which may indicate increased operating costs or low product margins. This could be a challenge for future operational economics.

For the base industry (gourmet food store) in Bergen, data shows that revenue has been relatively stable with a growth of 5.3% from 2024 to 2025. EBITDA margins stand at 4%, indicating that operating profit is relatively low compared to revenue. This may point to a need for efficient cost management and differentiation in a competitive market. The most prominent growth areas are Indre Arna and Rådal, with revenue growth of 13% and 12%, respectively. This may indicate potential growth areas for new companies.

Compared to the broader services industry (industry2) in Bergen, the gourmet food store industry has fewer companies (27 vs. 586) and lower revenue (52 million vs. 11.6 billion NOK). However, the gourmet food store industry has higher EBITDA margins (4% vs. 2% for services) and higher revenue per employee (1.0 million vs. 2.3 million NOK). This shows that the gourmet food store industry has potential for higher operational economics compared to the broader services sector. Peer companies in the services sector include:

These companies have higher revenue and EBITDA than most gourmet food store companies, but they also have more employees and larger operations.

The gourmet food store industry in Bergen has both opportunities and challenges. With growth in revenue and number of employees in 2026, as well as higher EBITDA margins compared to the services sector, the industry could be an attractive sector for new companies. However, it is important to be aware of the lower EBITDA values and potential operating costs. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses and develop strategies to ensure profitability in this sector.