The Clothing Retail Industry in Alta: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The clothing retail industry in Alta is an important part of the municipality's retail sector, with 14 registered companies and over 120 employees. The industry has shown variations in sales and employees over time, with a peak in 2023 followed by a sharp decline in 2025. The most well-known names include H&M, Kappahl, and Lindex, which operate in central locations in Alta. The industry has high gross profits, but EBITDA margins vary significantly between companies. There are no bankrupt companies in the industry, which indicates a stable industry, even though some companies have negative EBITDA values.

Sales and employee development

• Sales: The industry had a peak sales of NOK 154.1 million in 2023, but a sharp decline of -39.4% in 2025, down to NOK 89.0 million.
• Employees: The number of employees has fallen from 174 in 2016 to 121 in 2026, with an average annual decline of approximately 4.5%.

Economic indicators

• EBITDA margin: An average of 4% for the industry, with variations between companies.
• Gross profit: Up to 5186% for some companies, indicating high margins in the clothing retail industry.
• Operating margins: At 2% for the industry, showing that operating costs are significant relative to sales.

Registered companies in Alta

• H&M Hennes & Mauritz As Avd 850 Alta Storsenter: 14 employees, sales of NOK 28.6 million, EBITDA of NOK 1.3 million.
• Kappahl As Avd 302 Alta: 14 employees, sales of NOK 16.8 million, EBITDA of NOK 1.9 million.
• Lindex As Avd Alta Senter: 12 employees, sales of NOK 17.6 million, EBITDA of NOK 646.8 thousand.
• Ak Hætta Duodji: Two companies with 0 employees and 0 sales, but registered as ENK (sole proprietorship).

Organizational forms

• AS (limited company): 14 companies, which are the most common organizational forms in the industry.
• ENK (sole proprietorship): Two companies, but without activity in 2026.

Geographic distribution

All 14 companies in the industry are registered in Alta, with a focus on the following addresses:

• Markedsgata 21-25: H&M, Kappahl, Lindex, Cubus, Zavanna, Brn Best Retail, Dressmann, Bik Bok, Carlings, Zero.

• Altaveien 242: Miltrad.
• Killiveien 94: Ak Hætta Duodji.

Centralization

The industry is strongly centralized in Alta, with a focus on Markedsgata and areas around Alta Storsenter. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on market conditions and competition in the area.

Bankruptcies and dynamics

• Bankruptcies: No companies in the industry are registered as bankrupt in 2026, indicating a stable industry.
• Negative EBITDA: Two companies (Zavanna and Bik Bok) had negative EBITDA in 2026, which may indicate economic challenges.
• Stable companies: Most companies have positive EBITDA and high gross profits, indicating that they have good control over operating costs.

Dynamics

The industry has proven to be relatively stable, with few bankruptcies and high margins. However, some companies have negative EBITDA, which may be a signal of potential challenges in the future.

Outlook for entrepreneurs

• Competition: The industry is dominated by well-known chains such as H&M and Lindex, which can make it difficult for new players to establish themselves.
• Market conditions: Alta is an important retail town in Troms and Finnmark, with good access to tourist traffic and local customers. This can be an advantage for new companies looking to establish themselves.
• Niche opportunities: Ak Hætta Duodji, which is registered as ENK, may represent an opportunity for local creative entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the industry.
• Economic challenges: The negative EBITDA values of some companies may be a signal of challenges in operating costs or sales, which entrepreneurs should be aware of.

Comparison with the parent industry

• Parent industry: Creative, arts, and entertainment activities have 45 companies in Alta, showing that the clothing retail industry is part of a larger industry.
• Sales: The parent industry had a peak sales of NOK 188.8 million in 2023, but a sharp decline of -36.8% in 2025, down to NOK 117.7 million.
• Employees: The parent industry had 228 employees in 2016, but only 161 in 2026, showing a significant decline.

Peer companies

• Montana Alta As (shoe store): NOK 7.0 million in sales, 5 employees, EBITDA of NOK 664,000.
• Skohuset Laila As (shoe store): NOK 8.7 million in sales, 10 employees, EBITDA of NOK 212,000.
• Magnussen Spesialsko Alta (shoe store): NOK 2.1 million in sales, 1 employee, EBITDA of NOK 211,300.

Conclusion

The clothing retail industry in Alta is part of a larger industry with 45 companies, but has its own dynamics. The parent industry has also shown a significant decline in sales and employees, which may be a signal of challenges in the sector.

The clothing retail industry in Alta has proven to be a stable, but varied industry with high gross profits and a centralization in Alta. The most well-known companies have good financial health, but there are also challenges in the form of negative EBITDA values for some companies. For entrepreneurs, there may be opportunities in niche markets and local initiatives, but competition from well-known chains can be a challenge. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Alta for this industry, based on data and local conditions.