The Café Industry in Arendal: Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The café industry in Arendal constitutes an important part of the municipality's local economy. With 13 registered companies and 92 employees in 2026, the data shows a stable existence, even though there have been significant fluctuations in sales and employment over time. The most prominent companies include Strand Cafe As, Jordbærpikene Arena As, and Obs Arendal Avd Kafeteria, which have proven to be the most stable in financing and operations. The industry has been marked by both strong growth and downturn periods, highlighting the need for strategic planning for new players.

Sales Development

Sales for the café industry in Arendal have shown large fluctuations over the years. There was a significant increase from 2021 to 2022, where sales rose by 262.1% from NOK 12.2M to NOK 44.3M. This was followed by a gradual decline from 2023 to 2025, where sales dropped from NOK 62.7M to NOK 43.5M. This development shows a fluctuating market dynamic, with potential influences from external factors such as economic fluctuations and competition from other restaurant and café purposes.

Employee Numbers

The number of employees has shown a more stable development, with an increase from 86 in 2025 to 92 in 2026. There have been periods with significant declines, such as from 2018 to 2019 (28.6%) and from 2024 to 2025 (11.3%), but also strong growth in periods such as 2021 to 2022 (43.4%). This indicates a certain degree of adaptability in the industry, although there are challenges related to maintaining a stable labor supply.

Registered Companies

There are a total of 13 companies registered in the café industry in Arendal. The most prominent companies include:

• Strand Cafe As (Nedre Tyholmsvei 6) – 22 employees, operates with NOK 4.5M in operating income.
• Jordbærpikene Arena As (Vesterveien 4) – 11 employees, with NOK 7.7M in sales.
• Obs Arendal Avd Kafeteria (Stoaveien) – 10 employees, with NOK 31.8M in operating income and NOK 1.6M in EBITDA.

Organizational Forms

Most companies are organized as AS (8 companies), while one company is SA (Obs Arendal Avd Kafeteria). There are also registered companies with the organizational form ENK, such as Indihut Mudki and Sjøbergs Mat Og Opplevelse. This shows a certain variation in how the companies are structured, which can affect their operations and financing.

Distribution of Activity

The café industry in Arendal is primarily concentrated in Arendal itself, with 9 companies and 100 employees. There is also registered activity in neighboring municipalities such as Bjorbekk and Nedenes, but these companies have not reported sales or employees. This indicates that Arendal is the main center for the café industry in the area, with a certain degree of spread to neighboring municipalities. However, a significant part of the activity is local to Arendal, which can be an advantage for new players seeking to establish themselves in the municipality.

Bankruptcies and Viability

There have been no bankruptcies registered in the café industry in Arendal in recent years, showing a relative stability in the industry. However, there are several companies that have reported zero sales and zero employees, such as Cafè En As and Merdø Kro As. This may indicate that these companies are either newly established, in a transitional period, or not actively operating. This is an important observation for new players, who should carefully consider viability and market share before establishing themselves.

Outlooks for New Players

The café industry in Arendal has shown itself to be both resilient and fluctuating over time. The strong growth from 2021 to 2022 shows potential for growth, but the declining trend from 2023 to 2025 also highlights challenges. New players should consider establishing themselves in Arendal, where there is a relatively stable market structure, but also competition from both existing cafés and larger restaurants. SmartGrunder can help founders find optimal addresses and strategies to establish themselves in the municipality.

Comparison with the Broader Industry

The café industry forms part of the broader restaurant and café industry in Arendal, which has 81 companies and a total sales of NOK 280.9M in 2023. This industry has shown a more stable development, with a growth from 2021 to 2022 of 16.0%, showing that cafés are a smaller part of this larger industry. Peer companies in the broader industry include both restaurants and sushi restaurants with higher EBITDA and sales, which can be a challenge for cafés seeking to compete at the same level.

The café industry in Arendal has shown itself to be a stable, but fluctuating part of the municipality's economy. With 13 companies and 92 employees in 2026, it is a clear market presence, even though there are challenges related to competition from larger restaurants and fluctuating sales. New players should consider establishing themselves in Arendal, where there is a relatively stable market structure, but also a need for strategic planning to ensure viability. SmartGrunder can help founders find optimal addresses and strategies to establish themselves in the municipality.