The Coffee Industry in Lillestrøm: Current Status and Outlook

Economic Overview

The coffee industry in Lillestrøm has shown robust growth over the past few years. From 2016 to 2025, sales increased from NOK 4.6 million to NOK 31.8 million, a growth of 678%. The number of employees has varied, but reached 47 employees in 2026 after stabilizing following a brief decline in 2023. EBITDA margins range from 4–9%, indicating good cost control in the most profitable businesses.

Yearly Development:

• Sales: 2016: NOK 4.6M → 2025: NOK 31.8M (+15.7% in 2024–2025)
• Employees: 2016: 10 → 2026: 47 (+2.2% in 2025–2026)
• EBITDA Margins: 4–9%, highest in Lillestrøm (9%) and Strømmen (4%)

Critical Points: Some businesses have negative operating profits (e.g., D. Coffee), but no bankruptcies have been reported in the industry.

Companies in the Industry

There are 5 registered companies in the coffee industry in Lillestrøm, distributed across the following businesses:

Organizational Forms: All companies are AS (4 companies, 48 employees). No sole proprietorships or other organizational forms are registered.

Geographic Distribution

The coffee business is concentrated in two areas:

1. Strømmen (3 companies, 39 employees):

• Sales: NOK 26.8 million
• EBITDA: NOK 1.2 million
• Average EBITDA per employee: NOK 28.2K
• Highest sales and most companies in the municipality

1. Lillestrøm (1 company, 9 employees):

• Sales: NOK 4.9 million
• EBITDA: NOK 452.3K
• Average EBITDA per employee: NOK 70.3K
• New business (Kaffebrenneriet) with high margin (9%)

Conclusion: Strømmen is the main area for coffee businesses, with three times more companies than Lillestrøm.

Operational Dynamics and Bankruptcy Statistics

Bankruptcy: No coffee businesses in Lillestrøm have reported bankruptcy (all companies are not bankrupt). This indicates a stable industry with good debt management.

Operational Results:

• Positive: 4 out of 5 companies have positive operating profit (minimum 129.0K)
• Negative: D. Coffee has negative operating profit (–285.3K), but no bankruptcy
• Debt: Average debt per company is NOK 3.3 million (highest for Espresso House)

Conclusion: The industry is stable with no bankruptcies, but some companies need to improve operational results.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The coffee industry in Lillestrøm shows strong growth and stability. With NOK 31.8 million in sales in 2025 and 47 employees in 2026, there are good prospects for new businesses. Particularly Strømmen is an attractive area with 3 companies and higher sales (NOK 26.8M) compared to Lillestrøm (NOK 4.9M).

Critical Points:

• Competition is high in Strømmen (3 companies)
• EBITDA margins range from 4–9%, requiring effective cost control
• No bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies have negative operational results

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should focus on Strømmen, where there is the most activity, but must be prepared for competition and the need for efficient operations.

Outlook for the Restaurant and Coffee Industry in Lillestrøm

Broader industry (restaurant / coffee) has 233 companies in the municipality, compared to 5 companies in the coffee industry. Sales in the parent category have grown from NOK 378.6 million in 2016 to NOK 399.0 million in 2025, a growth of +5.3%. The number of employees has varied, but reached 1,436 employees in 2026.

Contrast to the Coffee Industry:

• Sales: The parent category has 10 times higher sales than the coffee industry (NOK 399M vs. NOK 31.8M)
• Employees: The parent category has 33 times more employees (1,436 vs. 47)
• EBITDA Margins: The coffee industry has higher margins (4–9%) than the parent category (average 5%)

Peer Companies (not in the coffee industry):

• Olivia As: NOK 48.0M in sales, 38 employees, NOK 4.8M EBITDA
• Caj As: NOK 46.6M in sales, 57 employees, NOK 4.1M EBITDA
• Rog Nor As: NOK 29.0M in sales, 19 employees, NOK 3.3M EBITDA

Conclusion: The coffee industry is a small but profitable part of the restaurant sector in Lillestrøm. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on the coffee industry for better EBITDA margins, but must be prepared for competition from larger restaurant businesses.

Conclusion

The coffee industry in Lillestrøm shows strong growth and stability with NOK 31.8 million in sales in 2025 and 47 employees in 2026. Strømmen is the main area with 3 companies and higher sales (NOK 26.8M) compared to Lillestrøm (NOK 4.9M). EBITDA margins range from 4–9%, indicating good cost control in the most profitable businesses.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should focus on Strømmen, where there is the most activity, but must be prepared for competition and the need for efficient operations. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and assess business opportunities in the municipality.