Pubs in Fredrikstad

The pub industry in Fredrikstad is a small but dynamic sector with 3 registered companies. In 2025, the industry achieved total sales of 36.6 million NOK and employed 49 people. The EBITDA for the entire industry amounted to 366,000 NOK, indicating a weakly positive margin. At the same time, the industry is part of the broader category bar / club, which has 23 companies in the municipality – nearly 8 times more than the pub sector. This shows that the pub industry is a specialized subgroup with unique challenges and opportunities.

Sales and Employee Development

The pub industry has shown strong growth trends in recent years, with total sales growth of 7.7% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has increased by 10.9% during the same period. The most significant growth occurred in 2022, when sales increased by 130% from 9.6M to 22.0M NOK. This was likely due to a combination of increased tourism and operational improvements by the largest companies.

Registered Companies in the Industry

1. Taproom As (Nygaardsgata 33A) – 20 employees, EBITDA 134,000 NOK, EBITDA margin 0%
2. Lindo As (Nygaardsgata 23A) – 15 employees, EBITDA -180,000 NOK, EBITDA margin -1%
3. Dragen Pub As (Nygaardsgata 34) – 14 employees, EBITDA 412,000 NOK, EBITDA margin 4%

All companies are organized as AS, which is common for small businesses in the industry. Lindo As has a negative EBITDA, which may indicate economic challenges, while Dragen Pub As has a positive margin of 4%.

Geographic Distribution

All 3 companies in the pub industry are located in Fredrikstad, particularly in the Nygaardsgata area. There is no activity in other districts or municipalities. This shows that the industry is concentrated in a central part of the municipality, which can be both an advantage (concentration of customers) and a challenge (competitive proximity between companies).

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the 3 companies in the industry are bankrupt, which shows relative stability. However, Lindo As shows a negative EBITDA of -180,000 NOK, which may indicate economic challenges. Dragen Pub As, on the other hand, has a positive EBITDA of 412,000 NOK, showing that operational improvements and effective cost management can yield competitive results.

Development for Entrepreneurs

The pub industry in Fredrikstad shows potential for growth, especially with the strong sales growth in recent years. It is, however, important to note that the industry is small and concentrated in a limited geographic area. Entrepreneurs should consider the competition in Nygaardsgata and possible collaboration opportunities with local businesses. At the same time, they can learn from Dragen Pub As' positive EBITDA and Lindo As' experiences with economic challenges.

The broader category bar / club has 23 companies in the municipality, with total sales of 60.6 million NOK in 2025. This is almost twice as high as the pub industry. The most important peer companies in the bar sector include:

• Alibi Fredrikstad As (sales 8.3M NOK, EBITDA 2.0M NOK)
• Smoods Bar & Bistro As (sales 9.4M NOK, EBITDA 1.5M NOK)
• Fredrikstad Underholdning As (sales 14.4M NOK, EBITDA 1.1M NOK)

Many of these companies have higher sales and EBITDA than pub companies, showing that the bar sector has greater economic resources. However, many bar companies also have negative or zero EBITDA, showing that the entire sector has challenges.

The pub industry in Fredrikstad has shown strong growth trends, but remains a small sector with only 3 companies. Entrepreneurs should consider both the opportunities in a growing sector and the challenges of competition in a concentrated geographic area. SmartGrunder can help analyze potential locations in the municipality for new pubs, with a focus on natural development opportunities and operational improvements.