Industry · municipality
Fast Food Chain in Arendal: Industry Overview and Outlook
Analysis of companies, economic data, and opportunities in Arendal for the fast food chain industry
Brief overview of fast food chain in Arendal
Fast food chain in Arendal has shown significant growth in recent years, with a strong increase in the number of employees and sales from 2022 to 2023. In 2025, there are 87 employees registered in the industry, and sales reached NOK 44 million. At the same time, data shows a concentration of activity in the Arendal city center, with three businesses dominating the market. The industry also has a high average EBITDA margin of 10%, indicating good operational efficiency. However, it is important to note that one of the registered businesses (Haca Food As) has zero sales and operating income, which may indicate new or unstable businesses.
Economic overview of the industry
Sales for fast food chain in Arendal have shown extreme growth of +255.8% from 2022 to 2023, followed by a decline of -24.2% in 2025. The number of employees has increased significantly, from 21 in 2022 to 87 in 2026. The most significant increase occurred from 2022 to 2023 (+247.6%). In 2023, the industry had total operating income of NOK 71.2 million and an EBITDA of NOK 7.2 million. Average operating income per employee was NOK 2.4 million in 2023, indicating high productivity.
Businesses in the industry
There are three businesses registered in the fast food chain industry in Arendal:
| Name | Address | Organisational Form | Employees | Operating Income (2023) | Sales (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonalds 95 Stoa Arendal | Sagvannsveien 5 | AS | 56 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Arendal 1 Arendalsporten | Strømsbusletta 9 | AS | 31 | 71.2M | 70.8M |
| Haca Food As | Langbryggen 11 | AS | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Two of the businesses have organisational form AS, and all are registered in Arendal. McDonalds and Max Arendal have detailed financial data, while Haca Food As has zero values for all financial indicators, which may indicate new or unstable businesses.
Business geography
All businesses in the fast food chain industry in Arendal are concentrated in the Arendal city center. There are three businesses registered in the municipality, with a total of 91 employees. There is no data on activity in other city districts or municipalities. The businesses are located at the following addresses:
- Sagvannsveien 5
- Strømsbusletta 9
- Langbryggen 11
There are no indications that the business is spread to other geographical areas in the municipality.
Business dynamics and bankruptcy statistics
There are no registered bankruptcies in the fast food chain industry in Arendal according to data from 2022 to 2025. None of the registered businesses are bankrupt, indicating a stable industry. However, sales data shows a growth of +255.8% from 2022 to 2023, followed by a decline of -24.2% in 2025. This may indicate vulnerability in relation to market fluctuations or competitive pressure.
Outlook for founders in fast food chain
Fast food chain in Arendal has shown strong growth trends in recent years, with an extreme increase in sales and number of employees from 2022 to 2023. This indicates a good market position and high demand. However, basic founders should be aware of the sales decline of -24.2% in 2025, which may indicate increased competitive pressure or changes in customer behavior. The industry also has a high average EBITDA margin of 10%, indicating good operational efficiency.
Outlook for the quick service food sector in Arendal
In the broader quick service food sector in Arendal, there are 17 businesses registered, compared to 3 in fast food chain. Sales for quick service food in Arendal reached NOK 56 million in 2023, with a growth of +174.9% from 2022. The number of employees in quick service food had a growth of +73.8% from 2022 to 2023. Peer businesses in quick service food include bakeries and food courts, with examples such as Edgars Bakeri As and Lai Lai Take Away As. These businesses have lower EBITDA than fast food chain, indicating that fast food chain has better operational efficiency in Arendal.
Other companies in hurtigmat (not in fast food chain)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgars Bakeri As Avd Arendal Sentrum | bakery | Peder Thomassons gate 8, 4836 Arendal | NOK 5.1M | 8 | NOK 487.0K |
| Lai Lai Take Away As | street food | Torbjørnsbu 3, 4847 Arendal | NOK 4.0M | 4 | NOK 262.0K |
| Adham Imad Ridan | street food | Big Bite Avd 402 Arendal|Vesterveien 4, 4836 | NOK 0 | 4 | NOK 0 |
| Alhennawi Firefly | street food | Fløyveien 14, 4838 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Arendal Brygghus As | street food | Kloppenebakken 7, 4847 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Henrik's Isbåt, Løvdal | bakery | Kystveien 74B, 4841 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Mijiti Gatekjøkken As | street food | Myreneveien 35, 4847 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Reye Abdi Hasan Ahmed | street food | Østre gate 9, 4838 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sub 12 As | street food | Moldfaret 2G, 4848 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sukkerfrittliv As | bakery | Torbjørnsbu 20, 4847 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sukkerfrittliv As | bakery | Torbjørnsbu 20, 4847 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Tore Thorsen | bakery | Hulveien 11, 4841 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Torsbudalen Kiosk Og Grill | street food | Molandsveien 60B, 4846 Arendal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sub 8 As | street food | Sagvannsveien 16, 4848 Arendal | NOK 0 | 19 | NOK -7.0K |
Conclusion and recommendations
Fast food chain in Arendal has shown strong growth trends and high operational efficiency, but it is important to be aware of the sales decline in 2025. The industry is concentrated in the Arendal city center, and there are no bankruptcies. Founders should consider analyzing the competitive landscape and market fluctuations before starting a new business. SmartGrunder can help find optimal addresses in Arendal for fast food chain activity based on nature and development trends.