Industry · municipality
The Café Industry in Vågan – Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks
A detailed analysis of the café industry in Vågan municipality based on market data and company information to provide entrepreneurs and local decision-makers with a comprehensive view of the sector and the opportunities it offers in the municipality.
Executive Summary of the Café Industry in Vågan
The café industry in Vågan is a small but dynamic sector with two registered companies. In recent years, the industry has shown both increases and decreases in revenue and number of employees, indicating fluctuating market development. Svolvær is the only place in the municipality with activity within the café industry, and it is here that the two companies operate. With an average revenue of approximately 7.5 million NOK per company and an average wage cost of 2.7 million NOK, it appears that the industry has a stable, but not extremely high, margin. Prospects for new players are mixed, with both opportunities in a growing tourism-related sector and challenges related to competition and economic fluctuations.
Economic Overview of the Café Industry
Revenue and Employees
Revenue for the café industry in Vågan has shown fluctuating development in recent years. The highest revenue was recorded in 2022 at 8.1 million NOK, while in 2025 it was recorded at a decline to 7.3 million NOK. There was a slight increase in 2024 compared to 2023, but a decline in 2025.
Number of employees has been more volatile. There were 20 employees in 2022, but it dropped to 13 in 2025 before rising to 18 in 2026. This development shows that the industry has been affected by both economic fluctuations and likely the pandemic.
Annual Development
| Year | Revenue (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 343.4K | 0 |
| 2018 | 6.6M | 16 |
| 2019 | 5.5M | 10 |
| 2020 | 6.1M | 10 |
| 2021 | 7.7M | 17 |
| 2022 | 8.1M | 20 |
| 2023 | 7.2M | 17 |
| 2024 | 7.5M | 14 |
| 2025 | 7.3M | 13 |
| 2026 | 7.5M | 18 |
The most dramatic increase in revenue was recorded in 2018, with an increase of 1831.3% compared to 2017. However, there is a clear decline in 2023 and 2025, which can be attributed to both economic factors and competitive pressure.
Companies in the Café Industry
Registered Companies
There are two companies registered in the café industry in Vågan:
- Jordbærpikene Svolvær As (Lofotgata 33, Svolvær)
- Company Form: AS
- Founded: 2017-09-21
- Number of Employees: 19
- Revenue: 7.5 million NOK
- EBITDA: 392,000 NOK
- Total Debt: 2.7 million NOK
- Déjà Brew As (Sivert Nilsens gate 26, Svolvær)
- Company Form: AS
- Founded: 2025-11-10
- Number of Employees: 5
- Revenue: 0 NOK
- EBITDA: 0 NOK
Company Form
All companies in the café industry in Vågan are registered as AS (Anonymous Companies). There are no companies registered as sole proprietorships or other company forms.
Business Geography
Distribution of Activity
All companies in the café industry in Vågan are located in Svolvær. Here, the two companies operate, and there are a total of 24 employees in the municipality within the industry. Svolvær is therefore the only place in the municipality with activity within the café industry.
Svolvær – Details
- Number of companies: 2
- Number of employees: 24
- Revenue: 7.5 million NOK
- Wage Cost: 2.7 million NOK
- EBITDA: 392,000 NOK
- Average revenue per employee: 528,100 NOK
- EBITDA margin: 5%
Business Dynamics
Bankruptcy Safety
There are no registered bankruptcies within the café industry in Vågan. Both companies are still in operation, although one of them (Déjà Brew As) has 0 revenue and 0 employees. This may indicate that the company is in the start-up phase or has been affected by external factors such as the pandemic.
Stability and Development
The industry has proven to be relatively stable, despite large fluctuations in revenue and number of employees. The most dramatic decline in revenue was recorded in 2023, while there was an increase in 2024. However, there is a slight decline in 2025, which may be due to economic fluctuations or competitive pressure.
Outlook for Entrepreneurs
Prospects for New Players
For new entrepreneurs in the café industry in Vågan, there are both opportunities and challenges. The industry has proven to be relatively stable, with an average revenue of approximately 7.5 million NOK per company. However, there is a slight decline in revenue in 2025, which may indicate economic fluctuations or competitive pressure.
Tourism Proximity and Location
Svolvær is a popular tourist destination, and this can be an advantage for new cafés. However, there is also competition from existing companies, especially Jordbærpikene Svolvær As, which has a high revenue and a relatively high number of employees.
Recommendation
For new entrepreneurs, it may be beneficial to consider establishing themselves in Svolvær, where there is an existing café industry. However, it is important to be aware of the competition and economic fluctuations.
Outlook for the Restaurant/Café Sector
Comparison with Broader Sector
The café industry in Vågan is part of the broader restaurant/café sector in the municipality, which has 31 companies. This shows that the café industry is a relatively small part of the broader sector, which has higher revenue and more employees.
Economic Comparison
- Revenue in the restaurant/café sector in Vågan: 110 million NOK in 2025 (a decline from 122.7 million NOK in 2024)
- Number of employees: 296 in 2026 (an increase from 272 in 2025)
- EBITDA: 8.9 million NOK for the most profitable companies in the sector
Peer Analysis
The most profitable companies in the restaurant/café sector in Vågan include:
| Name | Address | Revenue (NOK) | Employees | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Svinøya Rorbuer As Avd Restaurant | Gunnar Bergs vei 2, 8300 Svolvær | 44.0M | 45 | 8.9M |
| Bacalao Drift As | Havnepromenaden 2, 8300 Svolvær | 36.6M | 63 | 3.5M |
| Nihao As | Johan E. Paulsens gate 12B, 8300 Svolvær | 15.3M | 17 | 2.4M |
These companies have higher revenue and more employees than the two cafés in Vågan, showing that the café industry is a smaller part of the broader sector.
Other companies in restaurant / kafé (not in cafe)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Svinøya Rorbuer As Avd Restaurant | restaurant | Gunnar Bergs vei 2, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 44.0M | 45 | NOK 8.9M |
| Mathuset Lofoten As | restaurant | Store Hakammen, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 68.0K | 0 | NOK 3.7M |
| Bacalao Drift As | restaurant | Havnepromenaden 2, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 36.6M | 63 | NOK 3.5M |
| Nihao As | restaurant | Johan E. Paulsens gate 12B, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 15.3M | 17 | NOK 2.4M |
| Balloonburger As | restaurant | Lofotgata 33, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 3.7M | 12 | NOK 442.0K |
| Livland As | restaurant | Midnattsolveien 914, 8315 Laukvik | NOK 1.8M | 3 | NOK 233.0K |
| Henningsvær Turistheim As | restaurant | Hellandsgata 75, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 753.0K | 0 | NOK 166.0K |
| Blue Sky Lofoten | restaurant | Torget, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Comida De Mar As | restaurant | Dreyers gate 118, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Digermul Kroa | restaurant | 0, 8324 Digermulen | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fellini Lofoten As | restaurant | Vestfjordgata 8, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 18 | NOK 0 |
| Fiskekrogen As | restaurant | Dreyers gate 29, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 0 | 41 | NOK 0 |
| Hjørnet Kafé As | restaurant | Torggata 11, 8310 Kabelvåg | NOK 0 | 7 | NOK 0 |
| Klatrekafeen As | restaurant | Misværveien 8, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 0 | 17 | NOK 0 |
| Kos Lofoten As | restaurant | Vesterøyveien 19, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Laura's Cafe Bar As | restaurant | Sivert Nilsens gate 26, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 4 | NOK 0 |
| Maya Victoria Westeng Kafé | restaurant | Brennaveien 233, 8313 Kleppstad | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Mnm Norge As | restaurant | Været 6, 8320 Skrova | NOK 0 | 8 | NOK 0 |
| Nordis Restaurant Svolvær | restaurant | Torget 15, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 36 | NOK 0 |
| Pattareeya,s Thai Food Truck As | restaurant | Sommerskaret 14, 8310 Kabelvåg | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| På Kaikanten Bistro & Pub As | restaurant | Laukvikveien 3A, 8315 | NOK 0 | 8 | NOK 0 |
| Skrei Restaurantdrift As | sushi restaurant | Storvåganveien 20, 8310 Kabelvåg | NOK 0 | 7 | NOK 0 |
| Skårungen Restaurant As | restaurant | Ørsvågveien 40, 8310 Kabelvåg | NOK 0 | 29 | NOK 0 |
| Vidar Naber Lysvold | restaurant | Hjellskjæret, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Viva Italia Akram Ans | restaurant | Torget, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Vågakallen As | restaurant | Dreyers gate 6, 8312 Henningsvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Æ Elske Pizza As | pizza restaurant | Kaiveien 2, 8310 Kabelvåg | NOK 4.0K | 0 | NOK -7.0K |
| Svolvær Restaurant As | restaurant | Vestfjordgata 1, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 3.3M | 7 | NOK -12.0K |
| Lucrum Lofoten As | restaurant | Meyerbakken 11, 8300 Svolvær | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK -39.0K |
Conclusion
The café industry in Vågan has proven to be a small but dynamic sector with two companies. In recent years, the industry has shown both increases and decreases in revenue and number of employees, indicating fluctuating market development. Svolvær is the only place in the municipality with activity within the café industry, and it is here that the two companies operate.
For new entrepreneurs, there are both opportunities and challenges. The industry has proven to be relatively stable, with an average revenue of approximately 7.5 million NOK per company. However, there is a slight decline in revenue in 2025, which may indicate economic fluctuations or competitive pressure. Svolvær is a popular tourist destination, and this can be an advantage for new cafés. However, there is also competition from existing companies.
For further analysis and help to find suitable locations in Vågan for the café industry, SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore opportunities and develop strategies that fit the municipality's structure and market conditions.