Cosmetics Retail in Sarpsborg: Current Status and Future Prospects

Sales Development:

Employee Development:

Sales increased significantly from 2016 to 2022, before falling by 33.1% in 2023. In 2024, there was an increase of 54.0%, but a decline of 32.3% occurred again in 2025. Employee development shows a more stable trend, with a decline of 28.3% in 2026.

In Sarpsborg, 16 companies are registered in the cosmetics retail sector, although there are 25 companies in total in the municipality. The most important companies include:

1. Rituals Cosmetics Norway As Avd Sarpsborg Storbyen – AS-form, 11 employees, high sales (14.4M NOK) and positive EBITDA (1.8M NOK).
2. Kato As – AS-form, 0 employees, but with sales of 18.8M NOK and EBITDA of 68.0K NOK. Marked as bankrupt.
3. Anistella As – AS-form, 0 employees, but with 200% sales growth and 7% EBITDA margin.

Most companies are AS-form, with 6 companies and 38 employees. There are also some ENK and DA companies, which often have 0 employees and no sales.

Organizational Forms:

The cosmetics retail activity in Sarpsborg is primarily concentrated in the city center, with 6 companies and 38 employees. The most important addresses include:

• Roald Amundsens gate 36 – Home to Rituals Cosmetics Norway As and Kicks Norge As.
• Klokkergårdveien 31 – Home to Hege Nyberg Butikkdrift As and Kicks Norge As Avd 643.
• Gamle Torvvei 19 – Home to Cosmovita As.

There is also activity in neighboring municipalities such as Grålum and Greåker, although these have fewer companies and no employees.

The industry has been relatively stable, with one bankruptcy registration in 2025: Kato As at Sandesundsveien 57A. This company had sales of 18.8M NOK, but a negative operating result of -77.0K NOK and EBITDA of 68.0K NOK. The bankruptcy may be due to high debt levels (3.0M NOK) and a low operating margin (0%).

On the positive side, Anistella As showed an extremely high sales growth of 200% in 2025, even though no employees are registered. This may indicate a new entrant that has had a strong market introduction.

The outlook for new players in the cosmetics retail industry in Sarpsborg is a mix of opportunities and challenges. In recent years, the industry has shown strong growth, peaking in 2022 (65.9M NOK sales) and declining in 2023 (44.1M NOK). In 2024, there was an increase of 54.0%, but a decline of 32.3% occurred again in 2025. This may indicate market uncertainty, perhaps due to economic factors or competitive pressure.

For new entrepreneurs, it may be advantageous to focus on areas with existing activity, such as Roald Amundsens gate 36 and Klokkergårdveien 31. These areas have a solid foundation for further development. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and assess potential development opportunities in the municipality.

The cosmetics retail industry in Sarpsborg has shown both strong growth and challenges in recent years. With 16 registered companies and total sales of 67.8M NOK in 2024, it is a clear market-oriented industry. However, there has been a bankruptcy registration, which shows that there are risks associated with operating in this industry.

For new entrepreneurs, it may be advantageous to focus on areas with existing activity and take advantage of the opportunities available in the municipality. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess potential development opportunities in Sarpsborg.

The cosmetics retail industry in Sarpsborg has shown a dynamic development in recent years, with both strong growth and challenges. There are 16 registered companies in the municipality, with total sales of 67.8M NOK in 2024. There is also one bankruptcy registration, which shows that there are risks associated with operating in this industry.

For new entrepreneurs, it may be advantageous to focus on areas with existing activity, such as Roald Amundsens gate 36 and Klokkergårdveien 31. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess potential development opportunities in the municipality.