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

The café industry in Kristiansand is a mix of stable businesses and challenges related to economic fluctuations. There are 13 companies registered in the industry, with a combination of AS, ENK, and KIRK entities. Although there has been a bankruptcy case (Lamassu As), the past few years have shown a gradual increase in both sales and number of employees. The industry has a clear focus on Kristiansand, with less activity in Søgne. For entrepreneurs, there may be opportunities in a city with cultural and tourist attractions, but it is important to be aware of fluctuations in sales and operating results.

Economic trends

Sales and employees have shown significant fluctuations in recent years:

There is a significant drop in sales in 2025, but an increase in 2026. The number of employees has been most stable, with a decline in 2021 and an increase in 2026. This indicates that the industry has been affected by external factors, but shows gradual adaptation.

Registered companies

There are 13 companies registered in the café industry in Kristiansand. The most represented organizational forms are AS (6 companies), with a mix of older and newer businesses. Examples of companies:

• Will.i.juice As (Dronningens gate 61) – 18 employees, high sales growth (14 %)
• Jordbærpikene Sandens As (Tollbodgata 14) – 17 employees, negative EBITDA (-5 %)
• Marvold & Christensen As (Ole Bulls gate 50) – new company established in 2024

Bankruptcy case: Lamassu As (Tinnheiveien 20) is registered as bankrupt, which shows some challenges in the industry.

Distribution of business

The café industry is strongly concentrated in Kristiansand, with 5 companies and 71 employees. Søgne has one business (Vsr As) with 14 employees, but no sales or operating results reported. The distribution shows that Kristiansand is the main hub for the industry, with less activity in the periphery.

There is one bankruptcy case in the industry: Lamassu As (Tinnheiveien 20) with 0 employees and 0 sales. This shows that the industry can be vulnerable to economic fluctuations, especially for companies with low operating margins. It is important to be aware of operating results and sales growth when considering starting a new business.

The café industry in Kristiansand shows both opportunities and challenges. There has been a gradual increase in sales and number of employees in recent years, but there is also a clear decline in 2025. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on locations in Kristiansand, where there is the most activity, and be aware of operating results and sales growth. It may be beneficial to collaborate with local companies or industry associations to gain insight into the market. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess operating prospects.

Comparison with broader industry

The café industry is part of the broader restaurant/café industry in Kristiansand, which has 248 companies – significantly more than the 13 in the café-leaf industry. The broader industry shows a more stable development in sales and number of employees, with an increase from 628.7M NOK in 2016 to 875.6M NOK in 2024. Examples of peer companies in the broader industry:

• Bare Studenthus (Skippergata 24B) – 14 employees, EBITDA 14.1M NOK
• Ger Nor As (Barstølveien 31) – 36 employees, EBITDA 7.0M NOK
• Som Hos Moi As (Nodeviga 2) – 68 employees, EBITDA 4.2M NOK

The broader industry has a higher degree of variation in company size and operating results, which can provide entrepreneurs with more opportunities to find a niche market.

The café industry in Kristiansand has both potential and challenges. With a gradual increase in sales and number of employees, as well as a concentration of business in the city center, there may be opportunities for new companies. However, it is important to be aware of operational risk and fluctuations in the market. Entrepreneurs should consider collaborating with local actors and industry associations to ensure a stable start. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess operating prospects.