The Restaurant Industry in Lærdal: Current Situation and Future Outlook

The restaurant industry in Lærdal has a complex history with both increases and decreases in the number of employees and sales revenue over the years. In 2023, the industry experienced a significant increase in the number of employees (26 people), but this was followed by a decline in 2024 and 2025 before an increase in 2026. Sales revenue has shown a more stable development, peaking at 8.8 million NOK in 2023 before a mild decline in 2025. The industry includes both active and inactive companies, and there is a mix of organizational forms such as AS and ENK. Future prospects show both opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding competition between locations and economic challenges for certain companies.

Over the past few years, the restaurant industry in Lærdal has shown uneven development. Sales revenue increased significantly from 2018 to 2019 (+54.5%), but has since experienced a decline of 18.0% from 2019 to 2020. In 2023, sales revenue reached a peak of 8.8 million NOK, followed by a mild decline of 3.4% in 2024. The number of employees increased sharply in 2023 (+36.8%), but this was followed by a decline of 38.5% in 2024 and 12.5% in 2025 before an increase of 64.3% in 2026. EBITDA margins have varied between 3% and 22%, with a negative margin for Kort Og Godt Kafe in 2024.

The following companies are registered in the restaurant industry in Lærdal:

The most active companies are Haabakken As and Postaabneriet Pub & Cafe As, while Elvekroi As, Galleriet Thomas Grøttebø, and Rikheim Gard V/elisabeth Rumohr have no reported revenues or employees.

The restaurant industry in Lærdal is distributed across two main locations:

Lærdal has more companies and employees, but Borgund shows higher sales growth (11%) and a better EBITDA margin (3%) compared to Lærdal (6%). This suggests that Borgund may be a more attractive location for new companies in the industry.

The industry has not experienced bankruptcy in recent years, but there is a mix of companies with both positive and negative economic results. Kort Og Godt Kafe Og Butikk As had a negative EBITDA of -124.0K NOK in 2024, indicating economic challenges for certain companies. At the same time, Haabakken As achieved a high EBITDA margin of 22%, suggesting good operational efficiency. There is also a significant variation in sales growth, with an increase of 11% for Postaabneriet Pub & Cafe As in 2024, but a decline of -8% for Lærdal in the same period.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant business in Lærdal, the data show both opportunities and challenges. The increasing number of employees in 2026 (23 people) and stable sales revenue (8.2 million NOK in 2025) suggest potential for growth. Borgund appears to be a more attractive location with higher sales growth and better EBITDA margins. Entrepreneurs should, however, be aware of the economic challenges faced by certain companies, such as Kort Og Godt Kafe, and consider analyzing detailed financial data for existing companies before making decisions. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess operational conditions in Lærdal.

The restaurant industry in Lærdal has a complex history with both increases and decreases in the number of employees and sales revenue over the years. With an increase in the number of employees in 2026 and stable sales revenue, the data indicate potential for growth. At the same time, it is important to be aware of the economic challenges faced by certain companies and the location differences between Lærdal and Borgund. Entrepreneurs should consider analyzing detailed financial data and location conditions before making decisions to start a restaurant business in the municipality.