The Café Industry in Tønsberg: Current Situation and Future Outlook

The café industry in Tønsberg shows a mix of stability and uncertainty. There are 8 companies in the sector, with a total of 39 employees and an average sales of approximately NOK 10.3 million. The most significant player is Jordbærpikene Tønsberg As, which operates with 19 employees and sales of NOK 10.3 million. At the same time, data shows that several companies have zero income, which may indicate challenges in operations or recent startups. The industry is part of the broader restaurant/café segment in the municipality, which has 142 companies and a much higher total sales of NOK 379 million. This shows that cafés in Tønsberg operate in a competitive, but also highly competitive, industry.

Economic Trends

The café industry in Tønsberg has been marked by large variations in sales and number of employees over time. From 2016 to 2025, sales have varied between NOK 10.2 million and NOK 15.7 million, with a sharp decline of -34.6% from 2022 to 2023. The number of employees has also been unstable, with a peak of 75 in 2023 and a decline to 21 in 2024 before an increase to 39 in 2026. This shows a certain degree of uncertainty in the industry, but also potential for recovery after periods of decline.

Organizational Forms

Of the 8 companies in the sector, 4 are organized as AS and 1 as ENK. AS companies dominate with a higher number of employees and sales, while ENK companies often operate with fewer or no employees. This may indicate that AS companies are more stable and capital-backed, while ENK companies may be smaller companies or sole proprietorships.

Registered Companies

In Tønsberg, the following companies are registered in the café sector:

Note: Jordbærpikene Tønsberg As is the only actor with significant sales and employees, while most other companies have zero income or employees. This may indicate that most companies in the sector are either newly started or operate with low activity.

Distribution by Neighborhood

Café activity in Tønsberg is most concentrated in Tønsberg itself, with 3 companies and 37 employees. The other neighborhoods, Undrumsdal and Ramnes, each have one company, but no activity in the form of sales or employees. This shows that the café industry in Tønsberg is strongly centralized, with little presence in the periphery. For entrepreneurs, this may indicate that there is greater potential to establish themselves in the Tønsberg city center compared to the smaller neighborhoods.

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the 8 companies in the café sector in Tønsberg are registered as bankrupt, which indicates that the sector is mainly stable. However, several companies have zero income, which may indicate challenges in operations or recent startups. This may be an indication that there is a certain risk for new companies to achieve profitability, especially in neighborhoods such as Undrumsdal and Ramnes where there is no activity from other companies.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in the café sector in Tønsberg, there are both opportunities and challenges. The most significant player, Jordbærpikene Tønsberg As, shows that it is possible to achieve high sales and employees in the sector. However, data shows that there is a certain degree of uncertainty, especially in connection with the decline in sales from 2022 to 2023. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider establishing themselves in the Tønsberg city center, where there is the most activity, and focus on differentiation to compete with existing companies. At the same time, it may be advantageous to utilize the broader restaurant/café industry in the municipality, which has a more stable development and higher total sales.

Outlook for the Broader Restaurant/Café Segment

The broader restaurant/café segment in Tønsberg has 142 companies and a total sales of NOK 379 million, which shows that it is a much larger and more stable industry compared to the café sector. The most significant companies in this segment include Havariet As (NOK 55.2 million sales, 59 employees) and Foyngården Drift As (NOK 58.3 million sales, 163 employees). This shows that there are opportunities for cafés in Tønsberg to compete within this segment, but it requires clear differentiation and a focus on quality to compete with the larger companies.

The café industry in Tønsberg shows potential for entrepreneurs, but it is important to be aware of the uncertain trends in sales and employees. The most significant player, Jordbærpikene Tønsberg As, shows that it is possible to achieve high sales and employees in the sector. However, data shows that there is a certain degree of uncertainty, especially in connection with the decline in sales from 2022 to 2023. Entrepreneurs should therefore consider establishing themselves in the Tønsberg city center, where there is the most activity, and focus on differentiation to compete with existing companies. At the same time, it may be advantageous to utilize the broader restaurant/café industry in the municipality, which has a more stable development and higher total sales. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal addresses in Tønsberg for café operations, based on data and local conditions.