Cafés in Kongsberg: Industry Analysis and Outlook

Kongsberg has an active café industry with 3 registered companies in the municipality, according to the latest reports. The industry has shown both challenges and opportunities over the past few years, with a significant sales decline in 2020 due to the pandemic, but a gradual recovery since 2021. Employment trends have been more stable, with an increase from 23 to 32 employees between 2023 and 2026. The registered companies primarily operate as AS companies, and there are no registered bankruptcies in the industry. This indicates a relatively stable industry with growth opportunities, especially in light of the gradual recovery after 2020.

Sales Development (2016–2025):

Employment Development (2016–2026):

The sales decline in 2020 was significant, but there has been a gradual recovery since 2021. Employment trends have been more stable, with a clear increase after 2022. This indicates that the industry has adapted to challenges and has a positive future.

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

1. Privat Restaurantdrift As (Storgata 4) – 21 employees, operates with an EBITDA margin of 31% and a sales growth of 14%.
2. Mlak Ellen As (Storgata 6) – 14 employees, operates with an EBITDA margin of 10% and a sales growth of 100%.
3. Mr.potet Kongsberg As (Storgata 28) – 0 employees, no sales or operations.

Organizational Form:

• AS (2 companies, 35 employees, 18.3M operational income, 22% EBITDA margin).

There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, which indicates a relatively stable industry. The two AS companies have higher EBITDA margins compared to other companies, which may indicate better operational efficiency.

All companies in the café industry in Kongsberg are registered in Kongsberg. There are 3 companies and 35 employees in the municipality. There are no specific sub-areas within the municipality that are highlighted for this industry. There is no data on the distribution of companies across different districts or areas in the municipality.

Bankruptcy Statistics:

• There are no registered bankruptcies in the café industry in Kongsberg over the past few years. This indicates that the industry has been relatively stable and has managed to handle challenges such as the pandemic.

Company Dynamics:

• Mr.potet Kongsberg As has no sales or employees, which may indicate that the company is new or in an early stage. This could also be an indication of competition in the industry.
• The other two companies have higher operational efficiency, with higher EBITDA margins and better sales growth.

Conclusion: The industry has proven to be relatively stable, with no bankruptcies and a gradual recovery after 2020. However, there are variations in company performance, which could be a challenge for new entrants.

The café industry in Kongsberg shows signs of a gradual recovery after 2020, with an increase in the number of employees and a decline in the sales drop. This can be a positive development for new entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the municipality. However, it is important to note that there are variations in company performance, and some companies have very low operational efficiency. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider carefully analyzing the market and finding a differentiation that can give them an advantage in a competitive industry. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in the municipality for café operations, based on local conditions and market potential.

Outlook for the Overall Industry (Restaurant/Café)

Overall Industry (Restaurant/Café):

• Number of Companies: 58 companies in the municipality, of which 3 are in the café industry.
• Sales Development (2016–2025):

Employment Development (2016–2026):

Peer Companies in the Overall Industry:

• Kongsberg Galaxy Pizza As (Sandsværveien 223) – 12 employees, 11.8M sales, 2.9M EBITDA.
• Sac Drift As Avd Gamlegrendåsen (Ove Gjeddes vei 110) – 2 employees, 33.1M sales, 1.4M EBITDA.
• Vår Bistro As (Nymoens Skrågate 2) – 13 employees, 8.5M sales, 1.3M EBITDA.

The overall industry (restaurant/café) has a more variable sales development compared to the café industry, with a strong recovery in 2025. This indicates that the café industry has better operational efficiency and more stable development compared to the rest of the industry. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider focusing on café operations in Kongsberg, given the relatively stable development and potential growth opportunities.

The café industry in Kongsberg has proven to be relatively stable over the past few years, with a gradual recovery after 2020. There are no registered bankruptcies, and there is a positive development in the number of employees. This indicates that the industry has adapted to challenges and has potential for further growth. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in the municipality, given the stable development and opportunities to develop in a competitive industry. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in the municipality for café operations, based on local conditions and market potential.