The Restaurant Sector in Bærum: Key Data, Development, and Opportunities

Bærum has a robust restaurant sector with 116 registered companies in 2025, but the sector has been marked by fluctuations in recent years. Sales in the industry reached a peak of NOK 285.4 million in 2019, but fell to NOK 197.2 million in 2025 – a decline of 26.0%. Employment figures had a brief increase in 2023 (859 employees), but dropped to 677 in 2026. Key areas such as Sandvika and Fornebu dominate activity, while areas such as Jar and Eiksmarka show weak or zero results. The sector has both opportunities and challenges, especially in light of recent years.

Sales Development (2016–2025):

Employment Development (2016–2026):

Sales experienced a sharp decline in 2025, while the number of employees declined more gradually. The sector had a brief upswing period in 2022–2023 before the decline.

In Bærum, 116 companies are registered in the restaurant sector, but only 16 of these are detailed in the data. The most common company forms are AS (55 companies) and Enk (4 companies). Examples of companies include:

• Leonardo Restauranter As (Fornebu): 47 employees, NOK 38.5M operating income, NOK 2.8M EBITDA.
• Norsand As (Sandvika): 30 employees, NOK 31.2M operating income, NOK 3.5M EBITDA.
• Verket Mat As (Bærums Verk): 30 employees, NOK 10.7M operating income, NOK -4.1M EBITDA (loss).

Many companies have weak or zero results, such as Bocca Bekkestua As and Nansen Cafe As, which have not reported income. There is also a bankrupt company in Fornebu: Seeds Punkt Fornebu As.

Restaurant activity is most concentrated in the following areas:

Note: Sandvika is the most active area with high operating income and number of employees. Bekkestua had an extraordinary 40% sales growth in 2025, while Bærums Verk had a loss of NOK 4.5M in 2024.

Bankruptcies and Challenges:

• 1 bankrupt company in Fornebu: Seeds Punkt Fornebu As (0 employees, 0 sales, 0 EBITDA).
• Norsand As (Sandvika) had an EBITDA margin of 11%, while Verket Mat As (Bærums Verk) had a loss of NOK 4.1M (EBITDA margin: -30%).
• Saporito As (Sandvika) had a negative EBITDA of NOK -227,000 in 2024.

Positive: Bekkestua had an EBITDA margin of 16%, and Lommedalen had an EBITDA margin of 11%.

Conclusion: The sector has both strong and weak players, with several companies in loss or with zero activity.

Outlook for Founders

For founders in Bærum, it is important to be aware of the recent decline in sales (26.0% in 2025) and number of employees. Nevertheless, there are opportunities in areas with high growth, such as Bekkestua (40% sales growth in 2025) and Fornebu (8% operating income growth in 2025). The sector has a large variation in EBITDA margins, indicating that successful companies may have a competitive model. Founders should also consider focusing on areas with high operating income and low bankruptcy risk, such as Sandvika and Fornebu.

Outlook for Broader Industry (Restaurant / Café)

Broader Industry (Restaurant / Café):

• Number of Companies: 167 (116 in the restaurant sector).
• Sales (2025): NOK 389.2M (a decline of 26.3% from 2024).
• Number of Employees (2026): 1,113 (a decline of 4.1% from 2025).

Peer Companies in Broader Industry (Top 5 by EBITDA):

Conclusion: The broader industry (restaurant / café) has higher sales and more companies than the restaurant sector alone. This suggests that cafes, sushi restaurants, and pizza restaurants may be more stable sectors in Bærum.

Bærum has a diversified restaurant sector with both strong and weak players. In recent years, sales and number of employees have declined, but there are opportunities in areas such as Sandvika, Fornebu, and Bekkestua. Founders should consider focusing on areas with high operating income and low bankruptcy risk, as well as examine the broader industry (restaurant / café) to find stable models. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and assess development opportunities in Bærum.