The Coffee Industry in Lillestrøm: Current Situation and Future Outlook

The coffee industry in Lillestrøm shows a mix of stability and development. In 2025, there are 19 companies registered in the sector, with total sales of 52.1 million NOK. Employment has increased from 103 in 2016 to 137 in 2026, indicating gradual development in the sector. However, one bankruptcy has been registered in the industry, namely Cafelaluna As, which has negative EBITDA and no employees. This shows that although the sector has grown, there are challenges related to economic stability.

Sales and Employees

From 2016 to 2025, sales in the coffee industry in Lillestrøm increased from 25.7 million NOK to 52.1 million NOK, with an annual growth of 17.8% in 2025. Employment has grown from 103 in 2016 to 137 in 2026, indicating stable development over time. This suggests that the sector has been able to adapt to market changes and increase its capacity.

Economic Growth

The sales growth has been most significant in 2019, with an increase of 66.0% compared to 2018. This may be due to increased demand for cafes and restaurants in the municipality. However, there have been periods of decline, such as in 2020, where sales fell by 26.6% compared to 2019. This may have been influenced by external factors such as the pandemic.

There are 19 companies registered in the coffee industry in Lillestrøm, with a mix of AS and ENK forms. The most well-known companies include Bit As Avd Strømmen Storsenter, Jordbærpikene Strømmen As, and Venus Bar As. However, some companies have no employees or sales, such as Kafé Nitja and Joe & The Juice Strømmen. This may indicate that some companies are in the start-up phase or have encountered operational challenges.

Organizational Forms

Most companies in the sector are registered as AS, with 12 companies and 124 employees. There is also one ENK organization, namely Solheimshagen Restaurant Liu, which has no employees or sales. This shows that there is a mix of large and small companies in the sector.

Distribution of Activity

The most active areas in Lillestrøm are Strømmen, with 6 companies and 77 employees, and Lillestrøm, with 4 companies and 52 employees. Fetsund, Kjeller, and Skedsmokorset have fewer companies, but still show some activity. For example, Skedsmokorset has 1 company with 4 employees, but with a negative EBITDA of -15.0K. This shows that although there is activity in these areas, there may be challenges related to economic stability.

Bankruptcies and Dynamics

One bankruptcy has been registered in the coffee industry in Lillestrøm, namely Cafelaluna As, which has a negative EBITDA of -114.0K and no employees. This shows that there is some risk of bankruptcy in the sector, even though it is a growing sector. However, no other bankruptcies have been registered, indicating that most companies have been able to maintain their operations.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The coffee industry in Lillestrøm shows growth in both sales and number of employees, indicating that there is potential for new companies in the sector. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges that may arise, such as negative EBITDA and bankruptcy. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider carefully analyzing the market and ensuring that they have a solid financial plan to avoid similar challenges.

Comparison with Broader Sector

Compared to the broader restaurant/cafe sector in Lillestrøm, which has 233 companies, the coffee industry shows growth in both sales and employees. However, the broader sector has a higher total sales of 399.0 million NOK in 2025, compared to 52.1 million NOK for the coffee industry. This shows that the coffee industry is a smaller part of the broader sector, but has nevertheless grown faster over time. Peer companies such as Olivia As and Caj As have higher EBITDA and more employees, which may be a challenge for new companies in the coffee industry.

The coffee industry in Lillestrøm shows a mix of growth and challenges. With an increase in both sales and number of employees over time, as well as a stable distribution of companies in different areas, there is potential for further development. However, it is important to be aware of the risky aspects, such as bankruptcy and negative EBITDA. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs analyze market outlooks and find optimal locations for new companies in the municipality.