The Restaurant Industry in Aurskog Høland: Current Situation and Future Perspectives

The restaurant industry in Aurskog Høland has shown a mix of stability and growth in recent years. In 2026, there are 18 companies in the industry, with 120 employees and annual revenues exceeding 17 million NOK. The most notable development has been a 69% increase in the number of employees from 2025 to 2026, indicating a strong economic upturn in the sector. The most prominent companies are AS entities such as Fjøset Restaurant As and Vafleriet As, which have shown positive operating results and high gross profit margins. At the same time, there has been growth in the number of AS companies, alongside a smaller presence of ENKs, suggesting a concentration of business models in the industry.

Annual revenues and employees

• Annual revenues (2026): 17.3 million NOK (17.5 million NOK in 2025)
• Number of employees (2026): 120 (66 in 2025)

Annual development

Key trends:

• Strong growth in the number of employees from 2025 to 2026 (+69%)
• Weaker development in annual revenues in 2025 compared to 2024 (-1.1%)
• Stabilization of revenues from 2022 to 2024 with small variations of less than 1% annually

In Aurskog Høland, there are 18 companies in the restaurant industry, with the following organizational forms:

• AS (12 companies): They dominate the industry with 137 employees and a combined annual revenue of 19.8 million NOK. Examples of companies:
• Fjøset Restaurant As (Blakerveien 1549, Aurskog): 27 employees, annual revenue 11.3 million NOK, EBITDA -352,000 NOK
• Vafleriet As (Klapputveien 595, Hemnes): 8 employees, annual revenue 1.2 million NOK, EBITDA 638,000 NOK

• ENK (1 company): Pickfactory Raymond Holmen (Haneborgveien 545, Aurskog): 5 employees, no operating results reported

Other companies:

• Kaffeskvetten As (Senterveien 15, Aurskog): 14 employees, annual revenue 1.1 million NOK, EBITDA -19,000 NOK
• Thai Kitchen As (Myrfaret 9A, Aurskog): 7 employees, annual revenue 3.5 million NOK, EBITDA -111,000 NOK

Distribution of activities in the municipality:

Key trends per location:

• Aurskog: Largest number of companies (6), but lowest EBITDA (-482,000 NOK) and lowest gross profit margin (66%)
• Bjørkelangen: Lowest number of employees (29), but highest EBITDA margin (-12%) and highest gross profit margin (76%)
• Hemnes: The only company (Vafleriet As) has positive operating results (595,000 NOK) and highest EBITDA margin (51%)

Bankruptcies and operating results:

• No bankruptcies have been registered in the industry in Aurskog Høland in 2026, even though several companies have negative EBITDA:
• Fjøset Restaurant As (EBITDA -352,000 NOK)
• Kaffeskvetten As (EBITDA -19,000 NOK)
• Thai Kitchen As (EBITDA -111,000 NOK)

Key operating results:

• Vafleriet As (Hemnes) has shown an extraordinary growth of 100% in annual revenues from 2024 to 2025, with an EBITDA margin of 51%
• Aurskog Restaurantdrift As (Aurfaret 25, Aurskog) has no operating results reported, which may indicate a new start or sanctioned operation
• Big Dream Steakhouse As (Bjørkelangen) has no operating results reported, but is registered as a bankruptcy in 2026

For entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry in Aurskog Høland, there are several opportunities to exploit:

1. Strong growth in the number of employees: With a 69% increase from 2025 to 2026, this may indicate growing demand for restaurant and café offerings in the municipality.

1. Positive operating results in some companies: Vafleriet As has shown a high EBITDA margin (51%) and positive operating results (595,000 NOK), which could serve as a model for future companies.

1. Low bankruptcy risk: No bankruptcies have been registered in the industry in 2026, indicating stable operations in the sector.

1. Lack of competitiveness in certain areas: In Bjørkelangen and Aurskog, there are several companies with negative EBITDA, which may indicate excessive competitiveness and opportunities for streamlining.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should focus on establishing themselves in areas with high demand and positive operating results, as well as developing unique offerings that can stand out in a competitive market.

Comparison with the restaurant/café sector:

• Number of companies: 21 companies in the restaurant/café sector compared to 18 in the restaurant industry
• Annual revenues (2026): 17.3 million NOK in the restaurant industry vs. 17.3 million NOK in the restaurant/café sector
• Number of employees (2026): 120 employees in the restaurant industry vs. 157 employees in the restaurant/café sector

Key peer companies in the restaurant/café sector (not in the restaurant industry):

Key trends in the restaurant/café sector:

• Strong growth in the number of employees from 2025 to 2026 (+42.7%)
• Higher annual revenue in 2017 (20.1 million NOK) compared to the restaurant industry (17.4 million NOK)
• More stable development in annual revenues from 2022 to 2024 with small variations of less than 1% annually

The restaurant industry in Aurskog Høland has shown a mix of stability and growth in recent years, with a strong increase in the number of employees from 2025 to 2026. The most prominent companies in the industry have shown positive operating results and high gross profit margins, indicating good economic health in the sector. At the same time, there has been growth in the number of AS companies alongside a smaller presence of ENKs, suggesting a concentration of business models in the industry. For entrepreneurs, there are opportunities to exploit in areas with high demand and positive operating results, as well as to develop unique offerings that can stand out in a competitive market. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in the municipality for the restaurant industry, with a focus on natural development opportunities.