The Café Industry in Hamar: Current Status and Future Outlook

The café industry in Hamar is a small but dynamic sector with a single company in focus: Espresso House Norge As. The industry has shown variations in sales and number of employees over time, with an average EBITDA margin of 4% and an extremely high gross profit of 3594%. This indicates a combination of high prices and low cost margins, which can be both an advantage and a risk for future businesses. The industry is part of the broader restaurant/café sector in Hamar, which has a total of 93 businesses, providing a broader basis for comparison of development trends.

Sales and employees in the café industry in Hamar (2016–2025):

Sales have grown from 0 in 2016 to 11.0M in 2025, with an average annual growth of 15.7%. The number of employees has varied between 0 and 20, with an average annual change of ±15.0%. The only company in the industry, Espresso House, has been stable with 18 employees in 2025, even though sales have fluctuated.

Espresso House Norge As is the only company in the café industry in Hamar. The company was founded in 2017 and has the following key figures:

• Organizational Form: AS
• Number of Employees: 18 (2025)
• Sales: NOK 10.8M (2025)
• EBITDA: NOK 539.1K (2025)
• Gross Profit: NOK 387.4M (2025)
• Total Equity: NOK 1.4M
• Total Debt: NOK 2.7M
• Sales Growth: 3% (2025)
• EBITDA Margin: 4%

The company has not been bankrupt, indicating stable operations. It is registered at Vangsvegen 62, Hamar and operates under Espresso House Norge As Avd Cc Stadion Hamar.

The café industry in Hamar is concentrated in the Hamar area, with one company and 18 employees. There are no underlying cities or places in the municipality that have activity in this industry. The only company, Espresso House, is located at Vangsvegen 62, Hamar, which suggests a central location in the municipality. This can be an advantage for accessibility and visibility, but also a challenge in terms of competition from other cafes and restaurants in the area.

The café industry in Hamar has shown both strong growth and decline over time. Sales increased by 235% from 2017 to 2018, but fell by 39.7% from 2019 to 2020. This may be due to external factors such as the pandemic and economic conditions. The number of employees has varied more, with an increase from 5 to 20 employees from 2017 to 2022, before falling back to 16 employees in 2025. Espresso House has been the only company in the industry, and has not been bankrupt, indicating stable operations. In the broader restaurant/café sector in Hamar, there have been several bankruptcies, which can be a warning for future businesses.

Development Trends for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a café in Hamar, it is important to be aware of the last few years in the industry. Although Espresso House has been stable with 18 employees and an EBITDA margin of 4%, sales have fluctuated. This may indicate sensitivity to external factors such as economic downturns and competition from other restaurants and cafes. It is also important to note that the restaurant/café sector in Hamar has a higher number of businesses (93) compared to the café industry (1), which can provide a broader market analysis for entrepreneurs. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal addresses in Hamar for café operations, based on natural and development trends.

The broader restaurant/café sector in Hamar has 93 businesses, providing a broader basis for comparison for the café industry. Sales in this sector have varied between NOK 194.8M and NOK 255.1M over time, with an average annual growth of ±5.0%. The number of employees has varied between 667 and 838, with an average annual change of ±10.0%. Current businesses in the sector include:

• Hamar Hotelldrift As (Torggata 42, 2317 Hamar): NOK 15.9M in sales, 28 employees, NOK 2.1M in EBITDA
• Lp Restaurantdrift As (Måsåbekkveien 2, 2315 Hamar): NOK 21.6M in sales, 23 employees, NOK 1.7M in EBITDA
• Hamar Friends As (Strandgata 37, 2317 Hamar): NOK 11.6M in sales, 14 employees, NOK 1.4M in EBITDA

These businesses have higher sales and EBITDA than Espresso House, which may indicate a competitive sector. Entrepreneurs should therefore be aware of differentiation and quality to compete effectively.

The café industry in Hamar is a small but dynamic sector with a single company, Espresso House, which has shown stable operations over time. Although sales and number of employees have varied, the industry has shown a high gross profit and an EBITDA margin of 4%. The broader restaurant/café sector in Hamar has a higher number of businesses and higher sales, which can provide a broader market analysis for entrepreneurs. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal addresses in Hamar for café operations, based on natural and development trends.