The Coffee Shop Industry in Bergen: Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The coffee shop industry in Bergen is an important part of the city's service and cultural sector. With 11 registered companies and over 118 employees in 2026, the industry shows a stable presence. Key figures show that sales have varied over time, with a peak in 2018 and a decline during the pandemic, but with a gradual increase since. The industry has also shown variations in operating profit and EBITDA margins, indicating that there are both successful and challenged actors. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies have negative operating profits.

Sales and employee development

Sales:

• 2016: NOK 36.4M
• 2017: NOK 42.6M (+17.1%)
• 2018: NOK 89.3M (+109.8%)
• 2019: NOK 82.6M (-7.6%)
• 2020: NOK 46.9M (-43.2%)
• 2021: NOK 52.0M (+10.9%)
• 2022: NOK 74.6M (+43.5%)
• 2023: NOK 67.5M (-9.5%)
• 2024: NOK 61.7M (-8.6%)
• 2025: NOK 64.9M (+5.3%)

Employees:

• 2016: 76
• 2017: 90 (+18.4%)
• 2018: 152 (+68.9%)
• 2019: 175 (+15.1%)
• 2020: 141 (-19.4%)
• 2021: 111 (-21.3%)
• 2022: 141 (+27.0%)
• 2023: 124 (-12.1%)
• 2024: 115 (-7.3%)
• 2025: 118 (+2.6%)
• 2026: 138 (+16.9%)

Sales experienced a sharp increase in 2018 but were affected by the pandemic in 2020. There has been a gradual increase since, with stabilization in 2025. The employee count had a sharp increase in 2018 and 2019 but has since stabilized with an increase in 2026.

Registered companies

The following companies are present in the coffee shop industry in Bergen:

1. Espresso House Norge As Avd Torgallmenningen 845 – 31 employees, sales NOK 13.9M
2. D. Coffee As Avd Vetrlidsalmmeingen Bergen – 20 employees, sales NOK 9.8M
3. Espresso House Norge As Avd Bergen Storsenter 821 – 15 employees, sales NOK 9.8M
4. Dromedar Kaffebar Avd 16 Vestre Torggaten – 14 employees, sales NOK 4.5M
5. D Coffee As Avd 6127 Lagunen Storsenter – 13 employees, sales NOK 0.89M
6. Det Nye Kaffekompaniet Ans – 12 employees, sales NOK 0
7. Espresso House Norge As Avd Åsane Storsenter 847 – 11 employees, sales NOK 5.1M
8. Dromedar Kaffebar Avd Strandgata – 10 employees, sales NOK 3.8M
9. Espresso House Norge As Avd Lagunen 837 – 9 employees, sales NOK 6.7M
10. Espresso House Norge As Avd Oasen 877 – 8 employees, sales NOK 1.5M
11. D Coffee As Avd 6123 Vestkanten – 1 employee, sales NOK 6.9M

Organizational forms

• AS (10 companies): Total of 132 employees, sales NOK 62.9M, EBITDA NOK 2.3M
• ANS (1 company): 12 employees, sales NOK 0, EBITDA NOK 0

Most companies are organized as AS, while one company is an ANS. The last company has no sales or operating profit, which may indicate a special organizational structure or temporary closure.

Distribution of activity in Bergen

The coffee shop industry is distributed across several areas in Bergen:

Bergen has the largest number of companies and employees, while Loddefjord has a company with high sales volume but few employees. Fyllingsdalen and Ulset have companies with high EBITDA margins, which may indicate efficient operations.

Operational dynamics and bankruptcy statistics

• Bankruptcy: There are no registered bankruptcies in the coffee shop industry in Bergen.
• Operating profit: Some companies have negative operating profits, for example, D. Coffee As Avd Vetrlidsalmmeingen with an operating profit of -NOK 320.3K.
• EBITDA margins: Most companies have EBITDA margins of 3-4%, with some exceptions such as Dromedar Kaffebar Avd 16 Vestre Torggaten with 4%.

The industry has shown relative stability with no bankruptcies, but there are variations in operating profit and EBITDA margins. Some companies have negative operating profits, which may indicate challenges in cost management or sales.

The coffee shop industry in Bergen shows potential for entrepreneurs, especially with a stable presence and a growing tourism sector. However, there are competitive actors, and it is important to focus on unique offerings or efficient operations to ensure profitability. EBITDA margins are at 3-4%, indicating that operational costs must be managed carefully. Entrepreneurs should also consider locations in the city's central areas, such as Bergen and Rådal, where there are more companies and potential customers.

Parent industry (restaurant/café):

• Number of companies: 632
• Sales in 2025: NOK 2710.1M
• Employees in 2026: 7155

The coffee shop industry is part of the broader restaurant and café industry, which has a much larger presence in Bergen. The broader industry has shown more stable development, with an increase in sales in 2022 and 2023, but a decline in 2025. The coffee shop industry has less variation in sales and employees compared to the broader industry, which may indicate that it is more specialized and less affected by market fluctuations.

Peer companies in the restaurant/café industry

The broader industry has companies with higher sales and more employees, indicating that it is possible to scale up in larger volumes. The coffee shop industry, however, has a more specialized approach, which can be an advantage for entrepreneurs seeking unique offerings.

The coffee shop industry in Bergen shows potential for entrepreneurs with a stable presence and a growing tourism sector. However, there are competitive actors, and it is important to focus on unique offerings or efficient operations to ensure profitability. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Bergen for coffee shop operations, with a focus on areas with high customer potential and good access to infrastructure.