Industry · municipality
The Restaurant Industry in Hammerfest: Current Status and Outlook
Economic Overview, Companies, and Business Geography in Hammerfest, Troms, and Finnmark, Norway
Executive Summary
The restaurant industry in Hammerfest is an important part of the local economy, with 23 registered companies in the municipality. In 2026, the industry had 117 employees and achieved total sales of NOK 63.2 million. The EBITDA margin stands at 8%, indicating a relatively stable financial position. The industry is dominated by AS companies (11 companies), while ENK companies are less represented. There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies report negative EBITDA values, such as Sweet Fantasy in Kvalsund. The parent category restaurant / café has more companies (26) and higher sales (NOK 77 million in 2025) compared to the restaurant industry alone.
Economic Overview
- Sales: In 2025, the restaurant industry in Hammerfest had total sales of NOK 63.2 million, with an annual growth of -7.0% compared to 2024. A strong growth of +39.8% was recorded from 2023 to 2024.
- Employees: The number of employees increased from 114 in 2025 to 117 in 2026, with an annual growth of +2.6%. There has been a stable trend since 2020, with an exception in 2019 (a decline of -28.8%).
- EBITDA: The EBITDA margin stands at 8%, indicating good cost control. In Hammerfest, companies had an EBITDA of NOK 7.2 million in 2026, while Kvalsund had a negative EBITDA of -4%.
- Average Values: The average sales per employee is NOK 568,000, and the average EBITDA per employee is NOK 92,500.
Companies in the Industry
The following companies are registered in the restaurant industry in Hammerfest:
| Company | Location | Number of Employees | EBITDA | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Øtm As | Parkgata 4, Hammerfest | 22 | NOK 1.7M | NOK 19.9M |
| Sakaya Hammerfest As | Sjøgata 3, Hammerfest | 20 | NOK 2.1M | NOK 16.8M |
| Trefjøla Spiseri As | Rypefjord | 17 | NOK 245K | NOK 14.2M |
| Sot Hammerfest As | Hamnegata 13, Hammerfest | 14 | NOK 3.2M | NOK 27.3M |
| Enjoy Cafe & Thai Take Away As | Sjøgata 9, Hammerfest | 7 | NOK 161K | NOK 5.8M |
| Hbk Pizza Og Grill Alqabb | Meridiangata 9, Hammerfest | 7 | NOK 0 | NOK 0 |
| På Hjørne Burgerhuset As | Storgata 2, Hammerfest | 7 | NOK 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sweet Fantasy As | Dalvegen 28, Kvalsund | 7 | NOK -44K | NOK 1.1M |
| Café Sårbar As | Akkarfjord 23, Akkarfjord | 5 | NOK 0 | NOK 0 |
| Kotsu Kotsu As | Lyngbakken 18, Hammerfest | 5 | NOK 0 | NOK 0 |
Organizational Forms: 11 companies are AS, 1 company is ENK, and 1 company is KBO. AS companies dominate with higher sales and employees.
Bankruptcy Statistics: There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Sweet Fantasy in Kvalsund.
Business Geography
The restaurant industry is most active in Hammerfest, with 8 companies and 86 employees. Other areas with activity are:
- Rypefjord: 1 company, 17 employees, sales of NOK 14.2 million, EBITDA of NOK 245K.
- Kvalsund: 2 companies, 8 employees, sales of NOK 1.1 million, EBITDA of -4%.
- Akkarfjord: 1 company, 5 employees, but no sales or EBITDA.
Mapping: There is no activity in Akkarfjord, while Hammerfest and Rypefjord have higher activity. Kvalsund has lower sales and EBITDA, which could be a challenge for new companies.
Business Dynamics
The industry has shown variation in economic results:
- Bankruptcy Statistics: There are no registered bankruptcies in the industry, but some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Sweet Fantasy in Kvalsund.
- Growth and Decline: Rypefjord had an extreme growth of +234% in sales in 2025, while Kvalsund had no growth in 2025. Hammerfest had a stable growth of +13% in sales in 2026.
- EBITDA Margins: The most profitable companies are Sot Hammerfest As (11%) and Sakaya Hammerfest As (12%), while Sweet Fantasy had a negative margin of -4%.
- Sales per Employee: Average sales per employee are highest in Rypefjord (NOK 1.1M) and lowest in Kvalsund (NOK 486,9K).
Outlook
Outlook for Entrepreneurs
The restaurant industry in Hammerfest shows both opportunities and challenges for new entrepreneurs:
- Opportunities: A stable number of employees and increasing sales (NOK 63.2M in 2025) indicate a positive trend. Rypefjord has shown extreme growth (+234% in 2025), which could indicate potential market spaces in the area.
- Challenges: Kvalsund has lower sales and negative EBITDA values, which could be a challenge for new companies. There is also a competitive market with established companies such as Øtm As and Sot Hammerfest As.
- SmartGrunder: SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Hammerfest for the restaurant industry, with a focus on areas with high activity and potential growth.
Outlook for the Parent Category
Outlook for the Parent Category restaurant / café
The parent category restaurant / café has more companies (26) and higher sales (NOK 77M in 2025) compared to the restaurant industry alone. There are also more employees (146 in 2026) and a higher EBITDA margin (8%). The following companies in the parent category are not registered in the restaurant industry:
| Company | Location | EBITDA | Sales | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skaidicenteret As Avd Kafe | Skaidiplassen 15, Kvalsund | NOK 840,8K | NOK 14.5M | 10 |
| Den Lille Kro Ans | Dalvegen 2, Kvalsund | NOK 0 | NOK 0 | 0 |
| Qa Spiseri / Maher Mawed | Sjøgata 8, Hammerfest | NOK 0 | NOK 0 | 18 |
Conclusion: The parent category has higher sales and more employees, but some companies have negative EBITDA values. It is possible to exploit potential market spaces in the café industry, especially in Kvalsund where Skaidicenteret As Avd Kafe has a positive EBITDA.
Other companies in restaurant / kafé (not in restaurant)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skaidicenteret As Avd Kafe | cafe | Skaidiplassen 15, 9620 Kvalsund | NOK 14.5M | 10 | NOK 840.8K |
| Den Lille Kro Ans | cafe | Dalvegen 2, 9620 Kvalsund | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Qa Spiseri / Maher Mawed | cafe | Sjøgata 8, 9600 Hammerfest | NOK 0 | 18 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion
The restaurant industry in Hammerfest shows both opportunities and challenges for new entrepreneurs. With stable growth in sales and number of employees, as well as a good EBITDA margin, there are potential market spaces in areas such as Rypefjord and Hammerfest. Kvalsund, however, has lower sales and negative EBITDA values, which could be a challenge. The parent category restaurant / café has higher sales and more employees, but there are also companies with negative EBITDA values. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Hammerfest for the restaurant industry, with a focus on areas with high activity and potential growth.