Pizza Restaurant Industry in Skien: Current Status and Outlook

The pizza restaurant industry in Skien is an important part of the local business structure. In 2025, there are 10 registered companies in the industry, employing a total of 120 people. Sales have grown by 39.8% from 2024 to 2025, reaching NOK 98.6 million. The industry's EBITDA margin stands at 4%, indicating a relatively stable financial position. There are no bankruptcy registrations among companies in the industry, suggesting a stable sector.

Sales in the pizza restaurant industry in Skien have shown dynamic development in recent years. From NOK 22.4 million in 2016 to NOK 98.6 million in 2025, the industry has experienced an average annual growth of 13.5%. Employee numbers have been more variable, declining from 199 employees in 2019 to 120 employees in 2025. This development reflects both crises and booms in the industry, influenced by economic and demographic factors.

In Skien, there are 10 registered companies in the pizza restaurant industry. The main organizational forms are AS (6 companies) and DA (1 company). Key players include:

• Skien Sportsbar AS (41 employees, NOK 16.8 million in sales)
• Peppes Pizza Avd Skien AS (32 employees, NOK 12.8 million in sales)
• Pizzanet AS (21 employees, NOK 10.2 million in sales)

The most interesting companies are those with high EBITDA margins, such as Pizzanet AS (19%) and Peppes Pizza Avd Skien AS (7%). There are also companies like Pizza Pizza Telemark Og Vestfold AS Avd Byfogd Paus G Skien that have high sales growth (48%) but negative EBITDA (–20%).

All companies in the pizza restaurant industry in Skien are registered in the Skien district. There is no geographical spread within the municipality. This indicates that the industry is concentrated in central areas with high population density and good customer access. There is no registered activity in other districts or small towns within the municipality.

The industry has been stable on the bankruptcy front. There are no registered bankruptcies among pizza restaurants in Skien. This indicates that companies have good financial management and that the industry has not been particularly affected by crises. However, data shows that some companies have negative EBITDA, such as Pizza Pizza Telemark Og Vestfold AS Avd Byfogd Paus G Skien (–20%) and Skien Sportsbar AS (–6%), which may indicate economic challenges for certain actors.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a pizza restaurant in Skien, the data shows a sector with potential opportunities. Sales have grown significantly in recent years, and there are no bankruptcy registrations. However, it is important to be aware of the variation in EBITDA margins and sales growth. Companies such as Pizzanet AS and Peppes Pizza Avd Skien AS demonstrate that it is possible to achieve high EBITDA margins, but there are also companies with negative results. It is also important to assess competition in a concentrated market structure.

Compared to the broader restaurant/café industry in Skien, pizza restaurants make up a smaller part of the total industry. The broader industry had 102 companies in 2025, while pizza restaurants had 10 companies. Sales in the broader industry amounted to NOK 263.4 million in 2025, compared to NOK 98.6 million for pizza restaurants. The EBITDA margin for the broader industry was 12.9% in 2023, indicating that it has a more stable financial structure. Key players in the broader industry include:

• Gulset Grill Og Pizza AS (NOK 31.3 million in sales, NOK 4.5 million EBITDA)
• Mr. Wok Skien AS (NOK 14.9 million in sales, NOK 1.8 million EBITDA)
• Cafe Tullis (NOK 13.2 million in sales, NOK 1.5 million EBITDA)

These companies show that it is possible to achieve higher EBITDA margins in the broader industry compared to pizza restaurants.

The pizza restaurant industry in Skien shows potential for growth, but it is important to be aware of competition and economic challenges. With a stable market structure and no bankruptcy registrations, it is possible to start a new restaurant. However, it is important to carefully analyze competitors and economic data. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and analyze market prospects in Skien.