The Café Industry in Grimstad: Companies, Statistics, and Outlook

Industry Overview

The café industry in Grimstad is a small but dynamic sector with four registered companies. In recent years, the industry has been marked by significant variations in sales, with a sharp decline in 2020 and an increase in 2026. The development of employment has been particularly unusual, with zero employees until 2026, followed by a sharp increase to 12 employees. This suggests that the industry is in a phase of renewal and development.

Key Figures

• Number of companies: 4
• Number of employees (2026): 12
• Sales (2026): Not reported, but historical data shows a sharp decline in 2020 and an increase in 2026.
• Organizational forms: Only one AS company has reported employees (Herlighed Odden AS).

Sales Development

The café industry in Grimstad has experienced uneven sales development in recent years. From 2016 to 2019, sales increased gradually, but in 2020, sales fell by over 90%, likely due to the pandemic. In 2026, a sharp increase in the number of employees (12) was reported, although sales data is still missing.

Employment Development

The development of employment has been extremely unusual. Before 2026, all cafés in Grimstad had zero employees. In 2026, the number of employees increased sharply to 12, indicating that there has been a new start or expansion of operations in the industry.

Table: Sales and Employees per Year

Registered Companies

The following companies are registered in the café industry in Grimstad:

1. Herlighed Odden AS – Odden 1D, Grimstad (20 employees, AS company)
2. Firefly Restaurant AS – Storgaten 33, Grimstad (0 employees, AS company)
3. Kasteloss AS – Homborsundveien 156, Homborsund (0 employees, AS company)
4. Syden AS – Kirkegaten 11B, Grimstad (0 employees, AS company)

Organizational Forms

All companies in the industry are registered as AS companies. Only Herlighed Odden AS has reported employees (20), while the others have 0 employees.

Table: Companies in the Industry

Geographic Distribution

All cafés in Grimstad are registered within the municipality itself, with a focus on central areas such as Storgaten and Kirkegaten. No cafés are registered in neighboring municipalities.

Table: Distribution by District

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the cafés in Grimstad have been bankrupt, indicating that the industry is relatively stable. However, sales figures have been uneven, with a sharp decline in 2020 and an increase in 2026. This may indicate that the industry has been affected by external factors such as the pandemic, but also that there has been a renewal in operations.

Table: Bankruptcy Statistics

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The café industry in Grimstad shows signs that there may be opportunities for entrepreneurs, especially with the sharp increase in the number of employees in 2026. This suggests that there has been a renewal or expansion of operations in the industry. However, it is important to note the uneven sales developments, which can be a challenge for new companies.

Potential Challenges

• Uneven sales developments: Sales figures have been highly variable, with a sharp decline in 2020.
• Small market size: Only four companies in the industry, which can limit competition but also provide less scale.
• High dependence on external factors: The pandemic had a significant impact on sales, which can be a challenge for future companies.

Comparison with the Broader Industry

The café industry in Grimstad is part of the broader restaurant/café industry, which has 43 companies in the municipality. This shows that the café industry is relatively small compared to the broader category. The broader industry also has higher sales figures, with a total sales of 81.9 million NOK in 2025.

Table: Comparison with the Broader Industry

Peer Companies in the Broader Industry

There are several companies in the broader restaurant/café industry that are not cafés, such as:

• Bluebox – Restaurant with 15 employees and sales of 9.2 million NOK.
• Smag & Behag AS – Restaurant with 147 employees and sales of 59.7 million NOK.
• Grimstad Pizza AS – Pizza restaurant with 23 employees and sales of 11.4 million NOK.

These companies can provide insight into how the broader industry functions and how cafés can compete or differentiate themselves.

Conclusion

The café industry in Grimstad is a small but potentially growth-friendly sector. With a sharp increase in the number of employees in 2026 and no bankruptcies reported, the industry shows signs that there may be opportunities for entrepreneurs. However, it is important to be aware of the uneven sales developments and the small market size. The broader restaurant/café industry in the municipality shows that there is a good infrastructure and a large number of companies, which can be an advantage for new cafés looking to establish themselves in Grimstad.