Cosmetics Retail in Fredrikstad: Industry Analysis and Development Trends

The cosmetics retail sector in Fredrikstad consists of a mix of established and new companies with varying economic performance. In total, 16 companies are registered in the industry, but the municipality reports a total of 29 companies, suggesting that some companies have not provided details. Economic data show significant variation: while some companies achieve high sales and operating results, others are in loss or have zero sales. Geographically, the activity is distributed across several areas, with Kråkerøy and Rolvsøy as main centers. The industry shows both strengths and challenges, with a certain degree of dynamism in company structure and economic results.

Sales development

Sales for cosmetics retail in Fredrikstad have shown a complex development in recent years. From 2016 to 2022, sales increased by 117%, followed by a sharp decline of 58.5% in 2023. Then there was a strong increase of 150.4% in 2024 and 39.1% in 2025, but a dramatic decline of 95.9% in 2026. This shows a highly volatile market development.

Workforce development

The number of employees has varied between 44 and 69 during the period 2016–2026. There was a significant increase of 47.7% from 2024 to 2025, indicating increased activity in the industry at that time. In 2026, the number increased by 6.2%, which may indicate stabilization.

Company structure

Most companies in the industry are organized as AS (11 companies), with a total of 72 employees. There are also some companies organized as ENK (5 companies), but these often have zero employees or sales. Key players include Rituals Cosmetics Norway As, Fredrik & Louisa As and Emanuelle Parfymeri As, which have high sales and operating results. Some companies, such as Kicks Norge As and Beautynett As, have negative operating results or zero sales.

Examples of companies

• Rituals Cosmetics Norway As (Kråkerøy): 15 employees, sales of NOK 12.0M, EBITDA of NOK 1.5M.
• Fredrik & Louisa As (Kråkerøy): 10 employees, sales of NOK 27.7M, EBITDA of NOK 1.2M.
• Emanuelle Parfymeri As (Rolvsøy): 5 employees, sales of NOK 5.7M, EBITDA of NOK -110.0K.
• Beautynett As (Fredrikstad): 4 employees, sales of NOK 0, EBITDA of NOK -229.0K.
• Green Spirit As (Gamle Fredrikstad): 2 employees, sales of NOK 4.3M, EBITDA of NOK 212.0K.

Distribution of activity

Cosmetics retail activity in Fredrikstad is distributed across several geographical areas, with the following development:

Kråkerøy and Rolvsøy are the most active areas, with high sales and operating results. Fredrikstad and Torp show lower activity, with some companies in loss or with zero sales.

Bankruptcy security and operating results

None of the reported companies in the industry are in bankruptcy, which shows a relative stabilization in the industry. Nevertheless, operating results show large variations: while some companies achieve high positive results (e.g., Rituals Cosmetics Norway As with NOK 923.8K operating result), others have negative results or zero sales (e.g., Kicks Norge As and Beautynett As). EBITDA margins vary from -20% (Fredrikstad) to 12% (Rituals Cosmetics Norway As). This shows that the industry has both strong and weak players, and that operating results are strongly dependent on the area and company strategy.

Development trends and opportunities

The industry shows a highly volatile development, with both strong increases and decreases in sales and operating results. In recent years, there has been a strong increase in 2024 and 2025, but a dramatic decline in 2026, which may indicate an uncertain market development. For entrepreneurs, this may mean that it is important to be flexible and adapt to market changes. There are also opportunities in areas such as Kråkerøy and Rolvsøy, where there is high activity and positive operating results. Companies with high sales and EBITDA margins can be good models to follow, while companies with negative results can be a warning.

The cosmetics retail industry in Fredrikstad shows both opportunities and challenges. With a mix of established and new companies, as well as a geographical distribution pointing to important centers, the industry can be attractive for entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of the volatile economic development and the large variations in operating results. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies that adapt to the market development in the municipality.