The Restaurant Industry in Lillestrøm: Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The restaurant industry in Lillestrøm is an important part of the municipality's economy, with over 170 registered companies. The industry has shown both strengths and challenges in recent years, with a mix of stable businesses and some companies that have faced difficulties. This analysis provides an overview of companies, economic trends, geographic distributions, and future opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Economic Trends

• Annual Revenue: From 2016 to 2025, annual revenue for restaurant operations in Lillestrøm ranged between NOK 233.7 million and NOK 331.4 million. A decline of 21.5% was recorded from 2024 to 2025, but an increase of 7.9% was observed from 2025 to 2026.
• Number of Employees: The number of employees has shown variations, with a decrease of 10.2% from 2023 to 2024, but an increase of 12.7% from 2024 to 2025. In 2026, the number of employees is 919, an increase of 7.9% compared to 2025.

Summary

The industry has been marked by fluctuations, but shows signs of stabilization in 2026. This may be due to both economic improvements and an increase in the number of employees.

Registered Companies

• Caj As: Storgata 8B, Lillestrøm – 57 employees, high revenue and positive EBITDA.
• Esmo Restaurantdrift As: Teatergata 14, Lillestrøm – 39 employees, low EBITDA and negative operating profit.
• Olivia As Avd Lillestrøm: Storgata 14A, Lillestrøm – 38 employees, high revenue and positive EBITDA.
• Big Biff Lillestrøm As: Tærudgata 2, Lillestrøm – 28 employees, positive EBITDA and stable revenue.

Organizational Forms

• AS: 65 companies, 927 employees, high revenue and operating profit.
• ENK: 5 companies, 40 employees, but no revenue or operating profit.

Bankrupt Companies

• Brokkoli As: Guldhaugsletta 48, Skjetten – 0 employees, 0 revenue and 0 EBITDA.
• Solheim Vinbar As: Solheimsgata 13, Lillestrøm – 0 employees, 0 revenue and negative EBITDA of NOK -64.0K.

Distribution of Business in the Municipality

• Lillestrøm: 35 companies, 579 employees, high revenue (NOK 211.5 million) and positive EBITDA (NOK 7.5 million).
• Strømmen: 14 companies, 150 employees, high revenue (NOK 49.0 million) and positive EBITDA (NOK 2.9 million).
• Fetsund: 5 companies, 87 employees, low revenue (NOK 21.0 million) and negative EBITDA (NOK -101.0K).
• Skedsmokorset: 5 companies, 48 employees, high revenue (NOK 7.3 million) and positive EBITDA (NOK 1.5 million).
• Sørumsand: 4 companies, 31 employees, no revenue or operating profit.

Summary

Lillestrøm and Strømmen are the most active areas, with high revenue and positive EBITDA. Fetsund and Sørumsand show more unstable figures, with lower revenue and negative EBITDA.

Bankruptcies and Dynamics

• Bankrupt Companies: There are 2 bankrupt companies registered in the municipality, with total EBITDA losses of NOK -64.0K.
• Operating Profit: Some companies have negative operating profit, such as Esmo Restaurantdrift As and Norstrøm As.
• EBITDA: Several companies have low or negative EBITDA, such as Esmo Restaurantdrift As and Strømmen Staal Restaurant & Bar As.

Summary

The industry has shown variations in financial stability, with some companies facing challenges. It is important to monitor operating results and EBITDA to identify potential risky companies.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

• Stable Market: Although there have been fluctuations, the industry shows signs of stabilization in 2026 with an increase in the number of employees and revenue.
• Competitive Companies: There are several stable companies with high revenue and positive EBITDA, which can provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to compete.
• Geographic Opportunities: Lillestrøm and Strømmen are the most active areas, which can be an advantage for new companies.

Recommendation

Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in areas with high activity and stable companies. It is also important to keep track of financial trends and EBITDA to ensure a profitable business.

Comparison with Broader Category

• Restaurant / Café: The broader category has 233 companies, compared to 170 in the restaurant industry. This shows that cafes and other businesses are also an important part of the market area.
• Annual Revenue: The broader category had an annual revenue of NOK 399.0 million in 2025, compared to NOK 233.7 million for the restaurant industry.
• Number of Employees: The broader category had 1,367 employees in 2025, compared to 756 employees in the restaurant industry.

Peer Companies

• Bambus Sushi As Avd 320 Strømmen Storsenter 1: NOK 18.0 million in revenue, 10 employees and NOK 2.7 million in EBITDA.
• Bit As Avd Strømmen Storsenter: NOK 23.8 million in revenue, 34 employees and NOK 2.6 million in EBITDA.
• Aegean Mat As: NOK 2.7 million in revenue, 3 employees and NOK 694.5K in EBITDA.

Summary

The broader category has higher revenue and more employees, which can provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to expand into cafes and other businesses. Peer companies show variations in revenue and EBITDA, which can be an important factor to consider.

The restaurant industry in Lillestrøm shows both opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs. With stabilization in 2026 and high activity in areas such as Lillestrøm and Strømmen, it can be a good time to start a new business. It is important to keep track of financial trends and EBITDA to ensure a profitable business. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and analyze market opportunities in the municipality.