The Café Industry in Nordre Follo: Current Status and Outlooks

The café industry in Nordre Follo has shown both stability and variation over the past few years. With 9 registered companies and over 100 employees in 2026, the sector is relatively small, but with clear disparities in both revenue and operating results. The most prominent companies are located in Svartskog, while there are significant challenges in Ski and Langhus. Prospects for new entrants are mixed, with opportunities in growth areas and challenges related to competition and operational economics.

Economic Trends

Sales and Employees:

The café industry in Nordre Follo has shown growth in sales from 2024 to 2025 (+11.2%), but remained stable in 2026. The number of employees increased by 5.6% from 2025 to 2026, indicating increased activity in the sector. However, there are large variations between individual companies, with some reporting zero sales and operating results.

Operating Results and Margins:

• EBITDA margins range between 0% and 6%, with an average margin of approximately 3%.
• The most profitable companies have higher operating results, while some companies report negative figures (e.g., Gourmetallé As with -2677% EBITDA margin).

Registered Companies in the Café Industry

The following companies are registered in Nordre Follo:

1. Anne På Landet As (Svartskog) – 87 employees, 43.5M NOK in sales, 2.8M NOK EBITDA.
2. Kok Kjøkken Og Kaffe Avd 1310 Ski Storsenter (Ski) – 14 employees, 18.8M NOK in sales, 905.9K NOK EBITDA.
3. Lolaski As (Ski) – 13 employees, 0 NOK in sales and EBITDA.
4. Sushi Teria Langhus As (Langhus) – 6 employees, 0 NOK in sales and EBITDA.
5. Chai Cafe As (Oppegård) – 0 employees, 0 NOK in sales and EBITDA.
6. Go'bento Ingierstrand As (Svartskog) – 0 employees, 0 NOK in sales and EBITDA.
7. Gourmetallé As (Svartskog) – 0 employees, -589.0K NOK EBITDA.
8. Joe & The Juice Ski (Ski) – 0 employees, 0 NOK in sales and EBITDA.
9. Saigon Kaffe As (Ski) – 0 employees, 0 NOK in sales and EBITDA.

Organizational Forms: Most companies are AS entities (4 companies), with an average operating result per employee of 39.6K NOK.

Distribution of Activity in the Municipality

The café industry is most concentrated in Svartskog, with 1 company and 87 employees, while Ski has 2 companies and 27 employees. Langhus has 1 company with 6 employees, but reports zero sales and operating results. There are significant differences in economic performance between the areas:

• Svartskog: High sales (43.5M NOK), high EBITDA (2.8M NOK), and high average income per employee (576.3K NOK).
• Ski: Lower sales (18.8M NOK), lower EBITDA (905.9K NOK), and lower average income per employee (792.8K NOK).
• Langhus: No activity reported, which suggests potential challenges for companies in this area.

Operational Dynamics

The café industry in Nordre Follo has shown no registered bankruptcies in recent years. However, there are significant variations in operating results:

• Anne På Landet As has a positive EBITDA of 2.8M NOK and a high average income per employee (576.3K NOK).
• Gourmetallé As has a negative EBITDA of -589.0K NOK and zero employees, indicating operational challenges.
• Lolaski As and Sushi Teria Langhus As have zero sales and EBITDA, which may indicate problems with operations or activity.

It is important to note that although there are no registered bankruptcies, some companies are operating on the edge of profitability.

Outlook for New Entrants

For entrepreneurs considering starting a café in Nordre Follo, it is important to consider the following:

• Growth Areas: Svartskog shows potential with high sales and operating results, while Ski and Langhus have lower activity and potential challenges.
• Competitiveness: There are 9 companies in the sector, which can provide both competitiveness and opportunities for differentiation.
• Operational Economics: It is important to ensure a high average income per employee (at least 37.0K NOK) and a good EBITDA margin (at least 4%).
• Location: Companies in Svartskog have higher operating results, which can be an advantage for new entrants.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal addresses in the municipality for café operations, based on operational and geographic factors.

Comparison with the Broader Sector

The café industry in Nordre Follo is part of the broader restaurant/café sector, which has 91 companies in the municipality. The broader sector has higher sales (231.5M NOK in 2025) and more employees (708 in 2026) compared to the café sector. Operating results in the broader sector are also more stable, with an average EBITDA margin of 5%.

Examples of Competitors in the Broader Sector:

• Sushi Søstre As (sushi restaurant) – 26 employees, 20.3M NOK in sales, 5.4M NOK EBITDA.
• Norski As (restaurant) – 39 employees, 42.9M NOK in sales, 5.1M NOK EBITDA.
• Ski Pizza As (pizza delivery) – 18 employees, 11.3M NOK in sales, 1.7M NOK EBITDA.

The café sector therefore has opportunities to differentiate itself through specialization and unique offerings, but must compete with a broader sector with higher operating results.

The café industry in Nordre Follo shows both opportunities and challenges for new entrants. With growth in the number of employees and stable sales in 2025 and 2026, there is potential for development, especially in Svartskog. However, it is important to be aware of operational challenges, such as negative EBITDA and zero sales by some companies. Entrepreneurs should carefully consider location, competitiveness, and operational economics. SmartGrunder can help find optimal addresses and strategies to ensure profitability in this sector.