The Coffee Industry in Bergen: Business Structure, Development, and Opportunities

The coffee industry in Bergen is an important part of the local business structure, with a mix of established businesses and new players. In 2025, there are 49 registered companies in the industry, distributed across 8 different districts in the municipality. The industry has shown variation in development over the years, with both increases and decreases in revenue and number of employees. One of the most interesting observations is that some districts, such as Blomsterdalen and Nyborg, have shown strong economic results, while other districts have weak or negative figures. This shows that the coffee industry in Bergen has both opportunities and challenges, depending on location and operational strategy.

Over the years, the coffee industry in Bergen has shown dynamic development. Revenue has varied between NOK 273.4 million and NOK 324.4 million, with a decline of 8.6% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has increased from 400 in 2021 to 459 in 2025, with an average annual increase of 3.1%. The most significant increase in revenue was recorded in 2019, with a growth of 17.0% compared to 2018. This can be linked to increased tourism and cultural activities in Bergen. At the same time, the industry has been affected by declines, especially in 2020 and 2021, which can be explained by the pandemic and its consequences for public gatherings and consumption.

In Bergen, there are 16 companies in the coffee industry, with a combination of AS, ENK, and STI as organizational forms. The most represented companies are Ikea As Cafe Åsane, Bergen Brunsj As, and As Cafe Opera Avd Cafe, all of which have high revenue and are established in the city's central areas. One of the most interesting observations is that Bit As Avd Bergen Lufthavn has shown extremely high revenue growth of 39% in 2025, which can be linked to increased passenger traffic at the airport. On the other hand, companies such as God Servering As and Jens Restaurant As have experienced negative results, with respective EBITDA margins of -7% and 0%. This shows that the industry has both successful and challenged businesses.

The coffee industry in Bergen is strongly distributed across different districts, with Bergen as the main district. Here, there are 18 registered companies and 285 employees, which gives an average revenue per employee of NOK 539,000. Nyborg and Rådal follow with 2 companies each, but with significantly lower numbers of employees (80 and 46). Blomsterdalen has a unique position with 1 company, but with high revenue of NOK 22.1 million and an EBITDA margin of 10%. This shows that districts with high tourist activity and commercial interest can provide better economic results. Districts such as Laksevåg and Loddefjord, on the other hand, have no activities in the coffee industry, which could be an opportunity for new players.

The industry has been affected by some bankruptcies, showing that there are challenges in operational economics. The only registered bankruptcy is Torget Drift 9 As, which had an EBITDA of NOK -774,000 and no employees. This can be linked to weak sales figures and high operational costs. Although bankruptcies are rare, this shows that it is important to monitor operational results and financing in the industry. It is also worth noting that several companies have negative or weak EBITDA margins, which can be a signal that the industry is subject to economic pressures.

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the coffee industry in Bergen, the data show that there are both opportunities and challenges. The industry has proven to be resilient, with growth in the number of employees and several companies with high revenue levels. At the same time, it is important to be aware of bankruptcies and weak economic results for some businesses. Districts such as Blomsterdalen and Nyborg have proven to be attractive for new companies, while districts such as Laksevåg and Loddefjord may be less competitive. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal addresses and locations in Bergen that offer good development potential for coffee businesses.

When comparing the coffee industry with the broader category restaurant / coffee shop in Bergen, the data show that the latter has a much larger business volume. In 2025, the broader category had 632 companies, while the coffee industry had 49. Revenue in the broader category was NOK 2,710.1 million, compared to NOK 296.5 million for the coffee industry. This shows that the coffee industry is a smaller, but important part of the total restaurant sector. In addition, the broader category has a higher growth in the number of employees, with an increase from 6,911 in 2025 to 7,155 in 2026. This can be linked to the fact that the restaurant industry in Bergen has a greater variety of business forms and sizes, which can provide better operational economic results for some companies.

The coffee industry in Bergen has both strengths and challenges. It proves to be an important part of the local business structure, with a mix of successful and challenged businesses. Districts such as Blomsterdalen and Nyborg have proven to be attractive for new companies, while other districts have lower activity. For entrepreneurs, it is important to be aware of operational challenges and bankruptcies, but at the same time there are opportunities for growth and development. SmartGrunder can help find optimal addresses and locations in Bergen that offer good development potential for coffee businesses.