The Restaurant Industry in Lindesnes: Current Status and Outlook

The restaurant industry in Lindesnes is an important part of the local economy, with 33 registered companies in the municipality. In 2026, the industry had 392 employees and annual revenues of 64.5 million NOK. Mandal dominates with 13 companies and 360 employees, while Lindesnes has 5 companies and 86 employees. One of the most notable development trends is that the number of employees increased by 12.6% from 2025 to 2026, even though annual revenues fell by 14.7% during the same period. A single company, Udland Mat Og Drikke As, is registered as bankrupt, which shows a certain degree of dynamism in the industry.

Annual revenues and employees in the restaurant industry in Lindesnes (2016–2026):

Annual revenues reached their highest level in 2021 (75.1M), but fell by 14.7% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has increased continuously since 2020, with a rise of 12.6% from 2025 to 2026. This indicates that the industry has been in focus for hiring employees, even though revenues have been more unstable.

In Lindesnes, there are 33 companies registered in the restaurant industry, of which 16 are AS companies and 2 are ENK companies. The most notable companies include:

• Restaurant Hr Redaktør As (Store Elvegate 25, Mandal): 129 employees, 43.5M in operating revenue, 11% EBITDA margin.
• Kastellet As (Kastellgata 12E, Mandal): 25 employees, -3% EBITDA margin, but high operating revenue of 10.5M.
• Skinsnes Pizza As (Mikkelsmyrveien 1, Mandal): 24 employees, 12% EBITDA margin, 1.5M in EBITDA.

Several companies, such as McDonald's Mandal and Skudeholmen As, have not yet reported revenues or operating results, which may indicate that they are in the start-up phase or have limited operations.

Advantages of companies and employees in Lindesnes (2026):

Mandal is clearly the central area for the restaurant industry, with 13 companies and 360 employees. Lindesnes has fewer companies, but a higher EBITDA margin (5%) compared to Mandal (8%). This may be due to the fact that companies in Lindesnes have lower operating revenues, but higher operational efficiency.

The industry has been marked by a single bankruptcy, Udland Mat Og Drikke As (Hestehaven Industriområde, Lindesnes), which had 0 employees and 5.1M in annual revenues. This indicates that the industry has a certain degree of instability, even though most companies appear to be in operation. There is also a mix of established companies (e.g., Restaurant Hr Redaktør As, established in 2001) and new companies (e.g., Spangereid Bensin & Handel As, established in 2025). This shows that the industry has both stability and dynamism.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in Lindesnes, the restaurant industry is an opportunity, but also a challenge. With 392 employees in 2026 and an increase of 12.6% from 2025, the industry shows a certain degree of growth. EBITDA margins range from 5–12%, which can be sufficient for small companies. Mandal is the most promising area, with 13 companies and a higher EBITDA margin (8%). Entrepreneurs should, however, be aware of the bankruptcy risk, as shown by Udland Mat Og Drikke As. Good financing and efficient operations are necessary to survive in this industry.

Outlook for the Broader Industry (Restaurant/Café)

The broader industry restaurant/café in Lindesnes has 40 companies, compared to 33 in the restaurant industry. Annual revenues for this industry reached their highest level in 2021 (101.3M), but fell by 13.5% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has increased by 13.4% from 2025 to 2026, showing that the industry has been in focus for hiring employees. Peer companies in this industry include:

• Riverside As (Bryggegata 30, Mandal): 4 employees, 2.5M in annual revenues, 7.6% EBITDA margin.
• Mandalkamerat Grill Og Pizza As (Johnstons gate 1B, Mandal): 0 employees, 1.2M in annual revenues, 11.4% EBITDA margin.

This shows that the industry has both companies with high revenues and low employee numbers, as well as companies with low revenues and high operational efficiency.

The restaurant industry in Lindesnes has shown both growth and instability over the past few years. With 392 employees in 2026 and an increase of 12.6% from 2025, the industry shows a certain degree of growth. Mandal is the most promising area, with 13 companies and a higher EBITDA margin (8%). Entrepreneurs should, however, be aware of the bankruptcy risk, as shown by Udland Mat Og Drikke As. The broader industry restaurant/café has 40 companies and higher annual revenues, showing that the industry has potential for further development. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Lindesnes for the restaurant industry, based on data and development trends in the municipality.