The Restaurant Industry in Flakstad: Current Situation and Future Opportunities

The restaurant industry in Flakstad is a small but dynamic sector with three registered companies. In recent years, the number of employees has increased significantly, from 1 in 2018 to 21 in 2026, although sales have been more unstable. The only active company, Cafe Lille Martine AS, has shown strong economic growth in 2021, but also negative results in 2023. Flakstad has potential as a tourist destination, and the industry can benefit from this, even though competition and economic challenges are present.

Sales and employee development:

• Sales: Sales have grown from 0 in 2016 to 1.3 million NOK in 2021, with a strong increase of +185.3% from 2020 to 2021. There have been large fluctuations, including a decline of -60.8% in 2020.
• Employees: The number of employees has increased from 0 in 2016 to 21 in 2026, with an extreme increase of +600% from 2018 to 2019. There have been small fluctuations afterward, but stabilization from 2023.

Critical points: Sales and employees have grown, but there are large variations from year to year, which may indicate uncertainty in the industry or individual companies' unstable positions.

In Flakstad, there are three companies registered in the restaurant industry:

1. Cafe Lille Martine AS (Flakstadveien 457, Ramberg)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2020-05-26
• Number of employees: 21
• Sales: 1.3 million NOK (2021)
• EBITDA: -110,000 NOK (2023)

1. Arctic Investment AS (Sundveien 157, Sund I Lofoten)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2022-02-14
• Number of employees: 0
• Sales: 0 NOK

1. Tuk Tuk Foodtruck AS (Sundveien 157, Sund I Lofoten)

• Organizational form: AS
• Founded: 2023-07-26
• Number of employees: 0
• Sales: 0 NOK

Organizational forms: There is only one AS in the industry, and it has 21 employees. The other two companies were recently established and have no activity yet.

Ramberg is the only place in Flakstad with activity in the restaurant industry:

• Number of companies: 1
• Number of employees: 21
• Sales: 1.3 million NOK (2021)
• Operating income: 1.8 million NOK (2023)

Sund I Lofoten has two companies, but they have no employees or sales yet. This may indicate that they are in the start-up phase or have not yet begun operations.

Conclusion: Ramberg is the only area with established restaurant industry in Flakstad, while other areas have potential for future development.

Bankruptcies and economic challenges:

• There are no bankruptcies registered in the restaurant industry in Flakstad.
• Cafe Lille Martine AS has negative results in 2023, with EBITDA of -110,000 NOK and operating profit of -184,000 NOK. This may indicate economic challenges, even though sales have grown in 2021.

Stability: The other two companies have no activity yet, which may be an advantage for new actors wanting to establish themselves in Flakstad.

Outlook for Founders

Opportunities:

• Flakstad is a tourist destination, and the restaurant industry can benefit from this. There is potential to establish oneself in areas such as Sund I Lofoten, where there are two companies but no activity yet.
• Larger companies such as Cafe Lille Martine AS have shown growth in sales and employees, which may indicate that it is possible to succeed in this industry.

Challenges:

• Economic challenges, such as negative EBITDA and operating profit, can be a barrier for new actors.
• Uncertainty in sales and employees from year to year can make it difficult to plan for the future.

Outlook for the Overall Industry (Restaurant/Cafe)

Overall industry:

• There are four companies in the overall industry (restaurant/cafe) in Flakstad, three of which are in the restaurant industry. The fourth company, Investfjord DA (Asian restaurant), has no employees or sales, but is a potential competitor.

Comparison:

• Sales and employees in the overall industry have the same development as in the restaurant industry, with an increase from 2018 to 2019 and a decline in 2020.
• Investfjord DA has the same organizational form (DA) as other companies in the industry, but is in a different subcategory (Asian restaurant), which may provide a broader market in Flakstad.

The restaurant industry in Flakstad has potential, especially in Ramberg, where there are established companies with growth in employees and sales. There are also opportunities to establish oneself in other areas such as Sund I Lofoten, where there are two companies but no activity yet. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Flakstad for this industry, based on data and development trends.