The Café Industry in Nordre Follo: Current Situation and Future Outlook

The café industry in Nordre Follo has shown dynamic development in recent years, with both strengths and challenges. In 2022, the industry reached its highest sales figures (NOK 24.4 million) and employed 51 people, but there has been a decline in both sales and number of employees since 2023. Three companies are registered in the industry, all with AS as their organizational form. The industry is part of the larger restaurant/café sector in the municipality, which has 91 companies and a more stable economic development.

Economic Trends

Sales:

• 2016: NOK 3.4 million
• 2022: NOK 24.4 million (highest level)
• 2025: NOK 24.4 million (stabilization after decline)

Employees:

• 2016: 9 people
• 2022: 51 people (highest level)
• 2025: 40 people

Growth:

• Sales had an average annual growth of 22.5% from 2016 to 2022, but decreased by 13.6% from 2023 to 2024.
• Employees grew by 10.9% from 2021 to 2022, but decreased by 13.7% from 2022 to 2023.

Registered Companies

1. Espresso House Norge As Avd Ski Storsenter (Jernbanesvingen 6, Ski)

• Founded: 2017
• Employees: 31
• Sales: NOK 13.9 million
• EBITDA: NOK 693.2 thousand

1. Espresso House Norge As Avd 851 Kolbotn Torg (Strandliveien 4, Kolbotn)

• Founded: 2018
• Employees: 11
• Sales: NOK 5.1 million
• EBITDA: NOK 256.7 thousand

1. Stockfleth As Avd Ski (Jernbanesvingen 6, Ski)

• Founded: 2006
• Employees: 11
• Sales: NOK 5.9 million
• EBITDA: NOK -320.9 thousand (negative)

Organizational Form:

• All companies are AS (3 companies, 53 employees in total).

Geographic Distribution

Observations:

• Ski is the most active area with 2 companies and 42 employees.
• Kolbotn has a smaller company with 11 employees, but a higher EBITDA margin (4% vs. Ski's 1%).

• Bankruptcies: None of the three companies are bankrupt (marked as not BANKRUPT in the data).
• EBITDA Margins:
• Espresso House (Ski): 4%
• Espresso House (Kolbotn): 4%
• Stockfleth (Ski): -5% (negative)
• Development: Stockfleth had a negative EBITDA in 2023, while the other companies had positive margins.

Development for Founders

The café industry in Nordre Follo shows potential, but with variations in operational results. The two Espresso House companies have stable finances with positive EBITDA margins, while Stockfleth had a negative period in 2023. Founders should consider:

• Stability: The industry showed growth until 2022, but has declined since.
• Competitiveness: There are few companies, but competition between them is high.
• Location: Ski is the most active area, but Kolbotn has potential for higher margins.

SmartGrunder can help find optimal locations in the municipality based on operational data and market trends.

Comparison with the Restaurant/Café Sector

Parent Sector (Restaurant/Café):

• Number of Companies: 91 (industry has 3 companies)
• Sales: NOK 265.4 million in 2024 (industry: NOK 23.4 million in 2024)
• Employees: 696 in 2024 (industry: 40 in 2025)

Peer Companies in Parent Sector:

Conclusion: The parent sector has larger volume and industry variation, while the café industry in Nordre Follo is smaller but has potential for specialization.

The café industry in Nordre Follo has both opportunities and challenges. With three companies and a stable economy in most cases, the industry can be a good choice for founders seeking to establish themselves in a less competitive sector. It is important to be aware of operational results, especially after the recent years of decline. SmartGrunder can help find optimal locations and assess market trends before establishment.