Industry · municipality
The Café Industry in Harstad: Current Situation and Future Prospects
A detailed analysis of businesses, economics, and development trends
Executive Summary
The café industry in Harstad consists of 3 businesses with a total of 25 employees and annual revenue of NOK 14.3 million. The industry shows an EBITDA margin of 8% and 72% gross profit, indicating good financial health. Although the number of employees has varied significantly over the years, with a decline of 51.5% from 2023 to 2024, revenue has shown an increase of 11.1% from 2024 to 2025. The broader restaurant/café sector in Harstad has 52 businesses and higher revenue (NOK 225.9 million in 2025), showing that the café industry has growth potential within this larger sector.
Economic Overview
Revenue and Employees:
| Year | Revenue (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 17 |
| 2017 | 6.5M | 10 |
| 2018 | 10.4M | 24 |
| 2019 | 12.2M | 29 |
| 2020 | 10.3M | 30 |
| 2021 | 15.3M | 34 |
| 2022 | 12.8M | 49 |
| 2023 | 12.2M | 33 |
| 2024 | 12.6M | 16 |
| 2025 | 14.1M | 20 |
Key Figures:
- EBITDA margin: 8% (2025)
- Gross profit: 72% (2025)
- Average income per employee: NOK 670,100 (2025)
The industry has experienced greater revenue growth (11.1% from 2024 to 2025) compared to the number of employees, which had a decline of 25% from 2025 to 2026. This may indicate that businesses have increased efficiency or focused on reducing operating costs.
Companies in the Industry
Registered businesses in Harstad:
- Jordbærpikene Kanebogen As (Skilleveien 5, Harstad)
- Organizational form: AS
- Number of employees: 21
- Revenue: NOK 10.2M
- EBITDA: NOK 763,000
- Average income per employee: NOK 615,900
- Yuuka Yuuka Sushi Tromsø As (Trondenesveien 71, Harstad)
- Organizational form: AS
- Number of employees: 4
- Revenue: NOK 4.1M
- EBITDA: NOK 445,000
- Average income per employee: NOK 857,200
- Asiatisk Nettbutikk As (Trondenesveien 71, Harstad)
- Organizational form: AS
- Number of employees: 0
- Revenue: NOK 4.8M
- EBITDA: NOK 1.1M
- Average income per employee: NOK 1.4M
Organizational form:
- AS is the most common form (2 businesses), with an average revenue of NOK 14.3M and 25 employees.
Business Geography
Location of businesses in Harstad:
| Location | Number of businesses | Number of employees | Revenue (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harstad | 2 | 25 | 14.3M |
All businesses are registered in Harstad. There is no information about specific sub-areas or districts within the municipality. This suggests that the café industry is concentrated in the central area.
Business Dynamics
Bankruptcies and operational economics:
- None of the businesses in the café industry have been bankrupt (status 2025).
- The greatest variation in the number of employees was from 2022 (49 employees) to 2024 (16 employees), a decline of 51.5%.
- Revenue has shown greater stabilization after 2022, with an increase of 11.1% from 2024 to 2025.
Operational economics:
- The average EBITDA margin for the industry is 8%, which is lower than the broader restaurant/café sector (not provided in data). This may indicate that café businesses have higher operating costs or lower prices compared to other restaurants.
Outlook
Outlook for the café industry
Trend analysis:
- Revenue has shown an increase of 11.1% from 2024 to 2025, indicating increasing demand for cafés in Harstad.
- Number of employees has been unstable, with a decline of 51.5% from 2023 to 2024, but an increase of 25% from 2025 to 2026. This may indicate that businesses have adjusted their operational strategies to adapt to market conditions.
- EBITDA margin of 8% shows that the industry has good financial health, but there is potential to improve efficiency by reducing operating costs.
Opportunities for entrepreneurs:
- The café industry has growth potential within the broader restaurant/café sector, which has 52 businesses and higher revenue (NOK 225.9M in 2025).
- SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Harstad to start a new café, based on data about operational economics and market conditions.
Outlook for the Broader Restaurant/Café Sector
Key figures for the restaurant/café sector:
- Number of businesses: 52
- Revenue in 2025: NOK 225.9M
- Number of employees in 2025: 421
- Annual revenue growth: +2.4% from 2024 to 2025
Top businesses in the sector (sorted by EBITDA):
| Name | Address | Revenue (NOK) | Employees | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egon Harstad As | Sjøgata 11, 9405 Harstad | 30.0M | 29 | 4.6M |
| Obs Harstad Kafe 5260 | Verkstedveien 7, 9406 Harstad | 57.0M | 20 | 3.1M |
| Bark Spiseri Og Bar As | Fjordgata 1, 9405 Harstad | 21.3M | 24 | 2.7M |
Conclusion: The café industry is part of a larger and more stable sector (restaurant/café), which has higher revenue and more businesses. This provides opportunities for collaboration, growth, and increased market share for café businesses in Harstad.
Other companies in restaurant / kafé (not in cafe)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egon Harstad As | restaurant | Sjøgata 11, 9405 Harstad | NOK 30.0M | 29 | NOK 4.6M |
| Obs Harstad Kafe 5260 | restaurant | Verkstedveien 7, 9406 Harstad | NOK 57.0M | 20 | NOK 3.1M |
| Bark Spiseri Og Bar As | restaurant | Fjordgata 1, 9405 Harstad | NOK 21.3M | 24 | NOK 2.7M |
| Harstad Restaurantdrift As | restaurant | Skilleveien 5, 9411 Harstad | NOK 8.8M | 8 | NOK 1.7M |
| Oh Harstad As | restaurant | Rikard Kaarbøs plass 1, 9405 Harstad | NOK 6.7M | 9 | NOK 1.6M |
| Nl Harstad As | restaurant | Strandgata 30, 9404 Harstad | NOK 10.4M | 16 | NOK 1.6M |
| Hålogalandspizza As | pizza restaurant | Fjordgata 2, 9405 Harstad | NOK 9.4M | 14 | NOK 973.0K |
| Shangrila Restaurant As | restaurant | Båtbygger Danielsens vei 1, 9406 Harstad | NOK 13.6M | 13 | NOK 947.0K |
| Kinarestaurant As | restaurant | Rikard Kaarbøs gate 18, 9405 Harstad | NOK 8.2M | 12 | NOK 893.0K |
| Rungfa Thai Food As | asian restaurant | Rikard Kaarbøs gate 14, 9405 Harstad | NOK 5.2M | 9 | NOK 709.0K |
| Nord Milano As | restaurant | Strandgata 17, 9405 Harstad | NOK 11.1M | 14 | NOK 526.0K |
| Røkenes Gård & Gjestehus As | restaurant | Stornesveien 127, 9402 Harstad | NOK 8.0M | 15 | NOK 504.0K |
| Yuuka Yuuka Sushi As | sushi restaurant | Erlings gate 5, 9405 Harstad | NOK 6.6M | 0 | NOK 470.0K |
| Ava Nor As | restaurant | Havnegata 23A, 9405 Harstad | NOK 3.6M | 6 | NOK 366.0K |
| Bh Harstad As | restaurant | Strandgata 30, 9404 Harstad | NOK 10.5M | 14 | NOK 348.0K |
| Umami Harstad As | restaurant | Strandgata, 9405 Harstad | NOK 8.4M | 8 | NOK 199.0K |
| Chickenhouse Harstad As | restaurant | Strandgata 10, 9405 Harstad | NOK 3.0M | 4 | NOK 192.0K |
| Espresso House Norge As Avd Harstad 875 | coffeehouse | Fjordgata 1, 9405 Harstad | NOK 2.6M | 6 | NOK 128.4K |
| Nye Sham As | restaurant | Samasjøveien 26, 9404 Harstad | NOK 1.9M | 6 | NOK 84.0K |
| Arctic Grill & Bar As | restaurant | Torvet 3, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Arctic Grill & Bar As | restaurant | Torvet 3, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Bb Martin Johnsen | restaurant | c/o Big Bite Avd 109 Kanebogen|Skilleveien 5, 9411 Harstad | NOK 0 | 4 | NOK 0 |
| Bei Jing Restaurant As | restaurant | Båtbygger Danielsens vei 1, 9406 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Bryggekafeen På Grøtavær Da | restaurant | c/o Katrine Melbøe Nygård|Sildreveien 23, 9414 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Bryggekafeen På Grøtavær Da | restaurant | c/o Katrine Melbøe Nygård|Sildreveien 23, 9414 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Chen China | restaurant | Strandgata 12, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fagerheim Bistro Bjarkøy | restaurant | Leirvågveien 251, 9426 Bjarkøy | NOK 0 | 9 | NOK 0 |
| Gois Narvik As | restaurant | Mølnholtet 42, 9414 Harstad | NOK 0 | 17 | NOK 0 |
| Gois Restaurant As | restaurant | Strandgata 9, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 26 | NOK 0 |
| Hob Harstad Sentrum As | restaurant | Sjøgata 8, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 17 | NOK 0 |
| Hoelstuen As | restaurant | Rikard Kaarbøs plass 4, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Kane Kasserollesvingeri As | restaurant | Rikard Kaarbøs plass 4, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 12 | NOK 0 |
| Kompis Harstad As | restaurant | Fjordgata 1, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 10 | NOK 0 |
| Mama Rosa Pizzeria Ans | restaurant | Rikard Kaarbøs gate 18, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Osen Spiseri | restaurant | Mølnholtet 42, 9414 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Preget Av Blomsø As | restaurant | Storgata 17, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Restaurant Milano Da | restaurant | Strandgata 18B, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sabrura Harstad As | restaurant | Fjordgata 1, 9405 Harstad | NOK 0 | 15 | NOK 0 |
| Sawadee Sommergrill | restaurant | Lille-Fauskevåg 20, 9419 Sørvik | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sushi Plus As | sushi restaurant | Grønnliveien 25C, 9409 Harstad | NOK 0 | 16 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion
The café industry in Harstad has shown stable financial results with an EBITDA margin of 8% and 72% gross profit. Although the number of employees has varied significantly over the years, revenue has shown an increase of 11.1% from 2024 to 2025, indicating increasing demand for cafés in the municipality. The broader restaurant/café sector has 52 businesses and higher revenue (NOK 225.9M in 2025), showing that the café industry has growth potential within this larger sector. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in Harstad to start a new café, based on data about operational economics and market conditions.