The Gourmet Food Store Industry in Lillestrøm: Business Data, Companies, and Outlook

Lillestrøm has an active gourmet food store industry with 9 registered companies in the municipality. The most prominent companies are Olivenlunden As and Smak Av Italia As, which operate in Strømmen and have higher revenues and salary costs compared to other companies. The industry has shown a stable increase in the number of employees since 2020, with a rise from 15 to 24 employees in 2026. Although sales have been unstable over time, with a peak in 2021 and a decline in 2025, data shows an increase in operating profit for some companies, especially Smak Av Italia As. Strømmen is the only area in the municipality with activity in this industry, highlighting the importance of this area for local economic development.

Economic Overview

Sales and employees in the gourmet food store industry in Lillestrøm:

• Sales: Sales have shown significant variations over time. There was an increase from NOK 4.1 million in 2016 to a peak of NOK 20.8 million in 2021, followed by a decline to NOK 14.9 million in 2025. The most significant increase was recorded in 2020 (94.2%), while a decline of 30.9% was recorded in 2025.

• Employees: The number of employees has shown a more stable trend, with an increase from 8 employees in 2016 to 24 employees in 2026. The most significant increase was recorded in 2024 (36.4%), while a decline of 15.4% was recorded in 2023.

This shows that the industry has been influenced by both market drivers and cyclical variations, but with a general trend of increasing employee numbers in recent years.

In Lillestrøm, 9 companies are registered in the gourmet food store industry. The key companies are:

1. Olivenlunden As (Støperiveien 5, Strømmen) – AS company, 13 employees, operating profit NOK -183,6 thousand.
2. Smak Av Italia As (Støperiveien 5, Strømmen) – AS company, 6 employees, operating profit NOK 729,0 thousand.
3. Ochaya (Strømsveien 77C, Strømmen) – AS company, 9 employees, but with zero sales and operating profit.

Company structure: 3 companies are AS, and 6 are ENK. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry. Some companies, such as Beauty Look & Care Nguyen and Kristiansen Co, have zero employees and sales, which may indicate that they are newly established or inactive.

This shows a mix of established companies and potentially newly started companies in the industry.

Business Geography

All companies in the gourmet food store industry in Lillestrøm are located in Strømmen, with 3 companies and 28 employees. There is no activity in other parts of the municipality. Data shows that Strømmen has a significant share of sales (NOK 15.0 million) and operating profit (NOK 856,0 thousand) in the industry. This emphasizes that Strømmen is the only area in the municipality with activity in this industry, which can be an advantage for local entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the area.

Business Dynamics

Bankruptcy statistics: There are no registered bankruptcies in the gourmet food store industry in Lillestrøm, showing a stable industry. However, there are several companies with zero sales and employees, such as Ochaya and Beauty Look & Care Nguyen, which may indicate that they are newly established or in a transitional phase.

Operating profit: The most profitable companies are Smak Av Italia As (EBITDA margin 12%) and Olivenlunden As (EBITDA margin 0%). This shows that there are significant variations in profitability within the industry, which can be a challenge for new companies looking to compete.

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the gourmet food store industry in Lillestrøm, data shows a rising trend in the number of employees, which may indicate increasing demand for services in the industry. Strømmen is the only area with activity, which can be an advantage for new companies looking to establish themselves in the area. However, it is important to be aware of competition from existing companies, especially Smak Av Italia As and Olivenlunden As, which have higher revenues and operating profits. Entrepreneurs should also consider operating profit and EBITDA margin to ensure profitability in their company.

The services sector in Lillestrøm has 201 companies and a significantly higher sales volume (NOK 3.0 billion in 2025) compared to the gourmet food store industry. The number of employees in the services sector has shown a more stable trend, with an increase from 1,306 employees in 2016 to 1,513 employees in 2026. Peer companies in the services sector include Coop Øst Sa Avd 2211 Obs Lillestrøm (sales NOK 365.4 million, EBITDA NOK 14.5 million) and Meny Skedsmo Senter (sales NOK 134.1 million, EBITDA NOK 5.5 million). This shows that the services sector has a higher scale and more variation in company size compared to the gourmet food store industry, which is smaller and more specialized.

The gourmet food store industry in Lillestrøm has shown a rising trend in the number of employees and a stable industry without bankruptcies. Strømmen is the only area with activity, which can be an advantage for new companies looking to establish themselves in the municipality. However, it is important to be aware of competition from existing companies and operating profit to ensure profitability. The services sector in the municipality has a higher scale and more variation in company size, which can provide opportunities for collaboration or expansion. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Lillestrøm for this industry, based on data and local conditions.