The Restaurant Industry in Halden: Current Status and Outlook

The restaurant industry in Halden is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 54 registered companies in 2025. Although only 16 companies are detailed in the data, the figures show a mix of stable and weak businesses. Halden has a significant advantage compared to Sponvika, which only has one company without operating profit. A single bankruptcy case (Yang Restaurant As) highlights the industry's uncertainty, but many companies achieve positive EBITDA margins (e.g., Grand Bar As with 30%).

Key Figures:

• Number of companies: 54 (16 detailed)
• Total number of employees: 316 (2026)
• Annual revenue (2025): NOK 69.5 million
• Bankruptcy cases: 1 (Yang Restaurant As)
• Highest EBITDA margin: 44% (Thinthan Thaifood As)

Annual Revenue and Employee Development (2016–2026):

The industry has had uneven development, with a peak in 2022 (NOK 85.9M) and a decline in 2025. The number of employees has varied between 279 and 344, with a 6.3% decrease from 2025 to 2026. Halden has a positive revenue growth of 7% in 2023, but a decline of 7.0% in 2024.

Key Figures for 2025:

• Average revenue per employee: NOK 221,000
• Average EBITDA margin: 11%
• Average gross profit: 65%

Registered Companies (2025):

• Number of companies: 54 (16 detailed)
• Organizational Forms:
• AS: 24 companies (353 employees)
• Enk: 1 company (5 employees)

Key Companies (this year):

1. Thinthan Thaifood As (13 employees, NOK 5.8M in sales, 44% EBITDA margin)
2. Grand Bar As (15 employees, NOK 5.0M in sales, 30% EBITDA margin)
3. Kokkekollektivet Halden As (20 employees, NOK 9.9M in sales, 0% EBITDA margin)

Bankrupt Companies:

• Yang Restaurant As (Storgata 2A, 0 employees, NOK 0 in sales)
• Vekst Spiseri As (0 employees, NOK 0 in sales)
• Pizza'n På Brygga As (0 employees, NOK 0 in sales)

Advantages in the Municipality:

• Halden: 24 companies, 321 employees, NOK 82.0M in sales, 9% operating margin
• Sponvika: 1 company, 37 employees, NOK 0 in sales, 0% operating margin

Mapping of Activity:

• Halden is the main hub for the industry, with 7% revenue growth in 2023 and 65% gross profit.
• Sponvika has no operating profit and no sales, indicating a weak position.

Recommendation for Entrepreneurs: Focus on Halden for better access to customers and economic stability.

Bankruptcy Cases and Operating Results:

• Yang Restaurant As (Storgata 2A) is the only registered bankruptcy case in the industry, with NOK 0 in sales and 0 employees.
• Curtisen As (20 employees) has a negative operating profit (-NOK 58,000), but a positive EBITDA (NOK 81,000).
• Kocu Eiendom As (20 employees) has a negative EBITDA (-NOK 38,000) and a 9% revenue growth.

Operating Results:

• Positive EBITDA: 10 companies (e.g., Grand Bar As, Thinthan Thaifood As)
• Negative EBITDA: 6 companies (e.g., Curtisen As, Kocu Eiendom As)
• Zero EBITDA: 10 companies (e.g., Vekst Spiseri As, Pizza'n På Brygga As)

For Entrepreneurs in the Restaurant Industry in Halden:

• Strengths: Halden has a stable economy with 316 employees and NOK 69.5M in sales in 2025. Larger companies like Thinthan Thaifood As (44% EBITDA margin) show that it is possible to achieve high profits.
• Development: The industry had a decline of 1.3% in 2025, but it is possible to achieve growth through differentiation (e.g., specializing in takeaway or cafés).
• Risk: Bankruptcy cases and weak companies (e.g., Vekst Spiseri As) show that the industry is uncertain, but it is possible to succeed with a good strategy.

Recommendation: Focus on Halden, where it is possible to utilize existing infrastructure and customer bases. Consider combining a restaurant with takeaway or café to increase revenues.

Outlook for Broader Industry (Restaurant/Café)

Comparison with Broader Industry:

• Number of companies: 65 (54 in restaurant)
• Annual Revenue (2025): NOK 100.5M (industry: NOK 69.5M)
• Number of employees (2025): 407 (industry: 316)

Peer Companies in Broader Industry:

Conclusion: The broader industry has higher revenue and employees, but the restaurant industry has higher EBITDA margins (11% vs. 10% in cafés). Entrepreneurs should consider combining a restaurant with a café to increase stability.

The restaurant industry in Halden has both opportunities and challenges. With 54 companies and NOK 69.5M in sales in 2025, it is a stable industry, but there is also a bankruptcy case and weak companies. Entrepreneurs should focus on Halden, where it is possible to utilize existing infrastructure and customer bases. It is important to differentiate (e.g., specializing in takeaway or cafés) to achieve high profits. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Halden for the restaurant industry.