The Restaurant Industry in Drangedal: Current Situation and Future Prospects

The restaurant industry in Drangedal is a small but dynamic sector with 6 registered companies in the municipality. In recent years, the industry has been marked by large variations in both sales and number of employees, with a peak in 2017 and a sharp decline in 2020. In 2026, there are 4 employees in the industry, and sales figures have been highly unstable. Although there are signs of a weak upturn in 2023, data show that the industry remains vulnerable to uncertainty. There are, however, also opportunities for new players who want to establish themselves in a municipality with a growing population and some tourism-related infrastructure.

The industry has had a very uncertain economic development in recent years. Sales figures reached a peak of NOK 7.2 million in 2017, but fell to NOK 0 in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, a weak increase to NOK 482,200 was recorded, but sales fell back to NOK 0 in 2024. The number of employees has also been unstable, with a peak of 28 employees in 2018 and a decline to 4 employees in 2026. This development shows that the industry has been affected by both external factors (such as the pandemic) and internal challenges.

Table: Sales and employees per year

There are 6 companies in the restaurant industry registered in Drangedal. Most are sole proprietorships (ENK), with the exception of Kåsmyra Mølle AS, which is an AS. The most well-known companies are:

• Drangedal Restaurant V/Maria Sava (Drangedalsveien 3285) – 4 employees, established 2018
• Drangedal Grill V/Maria Sava (Strandgata 6) – 0 employees, established 2015
• Drangedal Pizza Grill Yasar (Strandgata 6) – 0 employees, established 2025 and 2026
• Eds Thaimat Skoglund (Søndre Havna 25, Neslandsvatn) – 0 employees, established 2023
• Kåsmyra Mølle AS (Elgveien 28) – 0 employees, established 2026

Most companies have no employees, and several have sales of NOK 0. However, there are signs that some new companies have been established in 2025 and 2026, which may indicate a cautious approach to establishing oneself in the industry.

Activity in the restaurant industry is concentrated in Drangedal. Most companies are registered in Drangedalsveien 3285 and Strandgata 6, while one company (Eds Thaimat Skoglund) is located in Neslandsvatn. There is 1 district in the municipality that has activity in the industry, and all companies are registered in Drangedal. This shows that the industry is relatively centrally located in the municipality, with a focus on central addresses.

The industry has been marked by large variations in recent years. Sales and number of employees have had significant declines, especially in 2020 and 2021, but there are signs of a weak upturn in 2023. There are no bankruptcy registrations for companies in the industry, but several companies have sales of NOK 0 and no employees. This may indicate that some companies have been able to survive, while others have been able to maintain an organizational structure without activity. There are also signs that the industry has been affected by a high degree of uncertainty, with both increases and decreases within a short period.

For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the restaurant industry in Drangedal, data show that the industry has been marked by unstable conditions, but there are also opportunities for new players. There are 6 companies in the industry, and there are signs that some new companies have been established in 2025 and 2026. This may indicate that there are opportunities to establish oneself in a municipality with a growing population and some tourism-related infrastructure. However, it is important to be aware of the unstable conditions in the industry, and to be prepared to handle both increases and decreases in sales and number of employees.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Drangedal for the restaurant industry, with a focus on areas with high potential for future activity.

The restaurant industry in Drangedal is a small but dynamic sector with both challenges and opportunities. In recent years, the industry has been marked by unstable conditions, with large variations in sales and number of employees. However, there are signs that there are opportunities for new players, especially considering the new companies established in 2025 and 2026. For entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in the industry, it is important to be prepared for the unstable conditions, but also to see the opportunities in a municipality with a growing population and some tourism-related infrastructure.