The Restaurant Industry in Grimstad: Current Status and Future Prospects

The restaurant industry in Grimstad is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 35 registered businesses in 2025. The industry has shown variation in its development, with an increase in sales of 11.2% from 2024 to 2025, but also periods of decline. There are 408 employees in 2026, which indicates strong growth after a period of decline. Grimstad and Fevik are the main areas, with 21 and 2 businesses respectively. The industry has a mix of organizational forms, with AS being the most common, and there are no bankrupt businesses registered in 2025. The broader category restaurant / café has more businesses and higher sales, which could provide opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to expand into cafés or specialized restaurants.

The industry has shown dynamic development over the years, with an increase in sales from NOK 67.7 million in 2016 to NOK 81.9 million in 2025. The most significant increase was recorded in 2019, with a rise of 20.6% compared to 2018. In 2025, the industry had a sales growth of 11.2%, which shows a stable recovery after a period of decline in 2024. Employees have shown a more uneven development, with a peak of 408 employees in 2026 after a decline from 326 employees in 2025. EBITDA margins vary greatly, with the highest margin at 45% for Marco Polo Restaurant Huang Ling, while other businesses have lower margins. In Grimstad, businesses had an average EBITDA margin of 13% in 2025.

In 2025, there are 35 businesses registered in the restaurant industry in Grimstad, with a mix of organizational forms. The most common forms are AS (20 businesses), Sær (1 business), and Enk (2 businesses). Some of the most well-known businesses include:

• Smag & Behag AS (Storgaten 14): 147 employees, NOK 59.7 million in sales, NOK 3.6 million in EBITDA.
• Bluebox (Jon Lilletuns vei 9): 15 employees, NOK 9.2 million in sales, NOK 9.1 million in EBITDA.
• Happy Time Fevik AS (Feviktoppen 11): 8 employees, NOK 1.4 million in sales, NOK 524,000 in EBITDA.

There are no bankrupt businesses registered in 2025, but some have negative equity, such as Yuan Restaurantdrift AS (NOK -552,000 equity) and Smaue AS (NOK -2.2 million equity).

The main areas for the restaurant industry in Grimstad are Grimstad and Fevik, with the following statistics:

Grimstad:

• 21 businesses
• 425 employees
• NOK 104.0 million in sales
• NOK 15.8 million in EBITDA
• Average EBITDA margin of 13%

Fevik:

• 2 businesses
• 22 employees
• NOK 8.4 million in sales
• NOK 1.3 million in EBITDA
• Average EBITDA margin of 15%

Fevik has a higher EBITDA margin than Grimstad, but fewer businesses. Grimstad has a larger number of employees and higher sales, but a lower EBITDA margin.

The industry has shown a mix of stability and variation over the years. In 2025, 16 businesses had EBITDA above NOK 0, while 4 had NOK 0 in EBITDA. There are no bankrupt businesses registered in 2025, but some have negative equity, such as Yuan Restaurantdrift AS (NOK -552,000) and Smaue AS (NOK -2.2 million). There are also businesses such as Episenteret AS and Herlighed Grimstad AS that have NOK 0 in sales and EBITDA, which may indicate that they are in the start-up phase or have encountered problems. One of the most dynamic businesses is Happy Time Fevik AS, which had a sales growth of 704% in 2025.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Grimstad, the data show a mix of opportunities and challenges. The industry has shown stable growth in sales in 2025, with an increase of 11.2% compared to 2024, which suggests growing demand. There are also opportunities to develop specialized restaurants or cafés, which are included in the broader category restaurant / café. This can give entrepreneurs opportunities to differentiate themselves and fill gaps in the market. There are also opportunities to leverage existing businesses with high EBITDA, such as Bluebox and Happy Time Fevik AS, which can provide inspiration for efficient operations. The outlook is positive, but entrepreneurs must be aware of the competition and the economic challenges shown in the data.

The broader category restaurant / café has 43 businesses in Grimstad, which shows that there are more businesses in this category than in the individual restaurant industry. Sales in this category had an increase of 11.2% in 2025, which is the same as the restaurant industry, but with a higher number of employees (420 in 2026). There are also more businesses in this category with high EBITDA, such as Firefly Restaurant AS and Herlighed Odden AS, which can give entrepreneurs opportunities to develop cafés or specialized restaurants. There are also opportunities to leverage existing businesses in this category, such as Syden AS and Schreuder Smoothies & Shakes, which can provide inspiration for efficient operations. The outlook for entrepreneurs in this category is positive, but it is important to be aware of the competition and the economic challenges shown in the data.

The restaurant industry in Grimstad has shown dynamic development over the years, with both increases and decreases. There are 35 businesses in 2025, with a mix of organizational forms and stable growth in sales. There are opportunities for entrepreneurs who want to start a restaurant or café, but there are also challenges such as competition and the economic challenges shown in the data. The broader category restaurant / café has more businesses and higher sales, which could provide opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to expand into cafés or specialized restaurants. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Grimstad for this industry, based on the data and market development.