The Café Industry in Sunnfjord: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The café industry in Sunnfjord is a small but active sector with four registered companies in the municipality. Most companies are located in Førde, and the number of employees has varied between 14 and 32 over the past few years. Although sales data for cafés in the municipality is incomplete (no reported sales after 2017), employee numbers and company structure indicate a visible presence. An important challenge is the lack of details about financial health, which can affect investments and development.

Sales Development

Sales for cafés in Sunnfjord peaked at NOK 38.3 million in 2016, but dropped to NOK 37.7 million in 2017 before falling to NOK 0 from 2018 onward. This shows a sharp decline after 2017, although there are no clear causes for this in the data.

Employee Numbers

The number of employees has been more stable, increasing from 23 in 2016 to 32 in 2024. There is a +45.5% increase from 2023 to 2024, but a decline of -25.0% from 2024 to 2025. This shows some fluctuation in the labor market for cafés in the municipality.

Registered Companies

Four companies are registered in the café industry in Sunnfjord:

Legal Forms

Two of the four companies are organized as SA (Stock Company) and AS (Limited Liability Company). One is an ENK (Sole Proprietorship), which may indicate less formal structures or small business operations.

Distribution of Activity

All four companies in the café industry in Sunnfjord are located in Førde. There is no data on activity in other districts or cities in the municipality. This suggests that Førde is the main center for the café industry in Sunnfjord, although there is no data on dispersion or potential other locations.

Bankruptcies and Dynamics

None of the four companies in the café industry in Sunnfjord are registered as bankrupt, which indicates relative stability in the sector. However, detailed financial data is missing, which could provide a fuller picture of the companies' financial health. This may be a challenge for future investments or development in the sector.

Development Trends for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in the café industry in Sunnfjord, the following may be relevant:

• Stable employee numbers: Despite missing sales data, employee numbers show some stability, which can be a positive signal.
• Førde as a center: Førde is the only area with activity, which can provide opportunities for local focus, but also a risk of competition.
• Lack of financial data: There is a clear need for more detailed financial information to better assess the potential in the sector.

Comparison with the Broader Sector

The broader restaurant/café sector in Sunnfjord has 40 companies, showing that the café industry is a small part of this. Sales for the broader sector have been more stable, with a peak of NOK 104 million in 2016 and a decline to NOK 57 million in 2025. This shows that cafés have a smaller market share compared to other restaurant types.

Peer Companies

Examples of companies in the broader sector with higher sales and EBITDA include:

• Rast Restaurantdrift As (NOK 14.8 million in sales, NOK 2.8 million EBITDA)
• Waro As (NOK 15.5 million in sales, NOK 680,000 EBITDA)
• Bambus Førde As (NOK 12.3 million in sales, NOK 2.2 million EBITDA)

These companies can provide a reference system for cafés in Sunnfjord, although they operate in other sub-sectors.

The café industry in Sunnfjord has a small but active presence with four companies in Førde. Although sales data is incomplete, employee numbers and company structure show that the industry has some stability. For entrepreneurs, Førde could be a potential center, but there is a need for more detailed financial information. SmartGrunder can help explore potential locations and improve understanding of market challenges and opportunities in the municipality.