Industry · municipality
The Café Industry in Sogndal: Current Situation and Future Outlook
An Analytical Overview of Companies, Economic Data, and Development Trends
Brief Overview of the Café Industry in Sogndal
The café industry in Sogndal consists of three registered companies, with a combination of sole proprietorships (ENK) and limited liability companies (AS). Employment development has been volatile, with a sharp decline of 41.2% from 2021 to 2022, but a significant increase of 100% from 2023 to 2024. Sales experienced a sharp rise of 170.5% from 2016 to 2017, but have since been uneven. The industry is part of the broader restaurant and café sector in the municipality, which has shown more stable development over time.
Economic Data for the Café Industry
Sales Development
Sales for café businesses in Sogndal experienced a sharp increase of 170.5% from 2016 to 2017, but have since been uneven. It reached a minimum of NOK 2.1 million in 2020 before a mild increase to NOK 2.4 million in 2021. This volatility indicates an industry affected by variations in customer behavior and local economic conditions.
Employment Development
Employment development has been more dramatic. There were 22 employees in 2016, but the number dropped to 7 in 2023 before a sharp increase to 14 in 2024. The most significant decline was from 2021 to 2022 (41.2%), while the most significant increase was from 2023 to 2024 (100%). This indicates an industry affected by both economic and organizational changes.
Companies in the Café Industry
Registered Companies
The following companies are registered in the café industry in Sogndal:
| Name | Address | Organizational Form | Founded | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl By Harbor Komendant | Holmen 8, Balestrand | ENK | 2023-04-26 | 10 |
| Memo Restaurant As | Almenningen 4, Sogndal | AS | 2024-02-04 | 9 |
| Ataie | Elvatunet 4, Sogndal | ENK | 2025-12-31 | 0 |
Organizational Forms
The industry has a mix of organizational forms:
- ENK (Sole Proprietorship): 1 company with 10 employees
- AS (Limited Liability Company): 1 company with 9 employees
Ataie, founded in 2025, still has no employees, which may indicate a new start or a company structure that has not yet been activated.
Geographic Distribution of Business
Distribution of Business in the Municipality
The café industry in Sogndal is distributed across two central locations:
| Location | Number of Companies | Number of Employees | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balestrand | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Sogndal | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Information from Data
For both locations, data on operating profit, gross profit, and other economic indicators is missing. It is possible that the companies are in an early stage or that the data is not updated in the register.
Dynamics and Stability in the Industry
Bankruptcy Safety
None of the three registered café businesses in Sogndal are registered as bankrupt companies. This indicates an industry currently not affected by economic crises or payment defaults.
Challenges
Although no bankruptcies are registered, the data shows an industry with uneven economic results. For example, Ataie has no employees and no sales, which may indicate a company structure that has not yet been activated or a business in an early stage.
Outlook for Entrepreneurs
Development Trends
The café industry in Sogndal has shown both strengths and weaknesses. The most significant increase in the number of employees (100%) from 2023 to 2024 indicates potential growth in the sector. However, sales have been uneven, with a sharp decline from 2017 to 2018 (34.3%) and a smaller decline from 2019 to 2020 (35.0%).
Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
For entrepreneurs, the industry can offer opportunities, especially in a municipality with tourist attractions like Balestrand. The increased number of employees in 2024 may indicate growing demand for cafés in the area. However, entrepreneurs should be aware of the uneven sales development and potential challenges related to local economic conditions.
Outlook in the Broader Sector
Broader Sector: Restaurant and Café
The broader sector (restaurant/café) in Sogndal has shown more stable development. Sales have increased by 6.7% from 2024 to 2025, and the number of employees has grown by 11.1% in the same period. This indicates a sector that has been more resilient than the individual café industry.
Peer Companies
The current café industry in Sogndal is part of a larger sector with 25 companies. Current peer companies in the sector include:
- Sogndal Pizza As (NOK 13.9 million in sales, 17 employees)
- Restauranthuset Malin As (NOK 24.9 million in sales, 28 employees)
- Presog As (NOK 14.2 million in sales, 20 employees)
These companies have higher sales and more employees than the current café businesses, indicating a sector with both large and small businesses.
Other companies in restaurant / kafé (not in cafe)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sogndal Pizza As | restaurant | Fjørevegen 8C, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 13.9M | 17 | NOK 2.2M |
| Restauranthuset Malin As | restaurant | Fjøravegen 17, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 24.9M | 28 | NOK 1.8M |
| Presog As | restaurant | Gravensteinsgata 5, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 14.2M | 20 | NOK 424.0K |
| Gekkens Restaurant Og Cafe Invest As | restaurant | 0, 6899 Balestrand | NOK 2.7M | 10 | NOK 258.0K |
| Brævasshytta As | restaurant | Fjærlandsvegen 4105, 6848 | NOK 64.0K | 0 | NOK 198.0K |
| Full Damp As | restaurant | Bryggjegota 6, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 4.3M | 4 | NOK 140.0K |
| Henjatunet Eggjagarden As | restaurant | Henjavegen 40, 6863 Leikanger | NOK 339.0K | 1 | NOK 47.0K |
| Baalee Restaurant Pettersen | restaurant | Kong Beles veg 20, 6899 Balestrand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Balestrand Servering As Konkursbo | restaurant | 0, 6899 Balestrand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Christoffer Knagenhjelm | restaurant | Havnebakken 1, 6854 Kaupanger | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Den Gule Kafe As | restaurant | Parkvegen 6, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 28 | NOK 0 |
| Domus Kafe | restaurant | 0, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Inkåleisn Kafé As | restaurant | Fjærlandsfjorden 272, 6848 | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Korall As | restaurant | Holmen 2, 6899 Balestrand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Meieriet Studenthus Sogndal | restaurant | Fjørevegen 18A, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 4 | NOK 0 |
| Melås Per Steinar | restaurant | Gjerdsfletene 7, 6863 Leikanger | NOK 0 | 4 | NOK 0 |
| Nafas As | restaurant | c/o Abbas Ekhtiyari|Kyrkjebakken 30, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Pota Madre Sogndal As Avd Sogndal | restaurant | Stedjevegen 38, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 35 | NOK 0 |
| Ruccola As | restaurant | Almenningen 4, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Saman Kaffebar | coffeehouse | Innovasjonsbygget, 1 etasje|Trolladalen 30, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Villmarka Leikanger As | restaurant | Gjerdsfletene 7, 6863 Leikanger | NOK 0 | 11 | NOK 0 |
| China House Eiendom As | restaurant | Stedjeflaten 18, 6856 Sogndal | NOK 1.0M | 0 | NOK -1.4M |
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The café industry in Sogndal shows both opportunities and challenges. With a stable number of employees in 2024 and a growing sector (restaurant/café) in the municipality, it can be an attractive market for entrepreneurs. However, attention should be paid to the uneven sales development and potential challenges related to local economic conditions. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies to succeed in this industry.