The Restaurant Industry in Midt Telemark: Analysis of Companies, Economics, and Development Trends

Overview of the Restaurant Industry in Midt Telemark

The restaurant industry in Midt Telemark is an important part of the local economy, with 25 registered companies in the municipality. This analysis provides a detailed overview of company structure, economic trends, geographic distribution, and development trends. Data shows that the industry has been marked by significant variations in sales and number of employees over time, with a marked increase in 2020 due to the pandemic. At the same time, organizational statistics show that most companies are AS (limited liability companies), with a smaller group operating as Special Organizations.

Sales and Employees Over Time:

Sales have grown by 3.3% from 2024 to 2025, while the number of employees has increased by 27.3% over the same period. The most significant increase in sales occurred in 2020, with a rise of +5200% compared to 2019. This is likely due to increased demand for restaurants during the pandemic. In 2023, a sales decline of -3.0% was recorded compared to 2022, but there has been stabilization since 2024.

In Midt Telemark, there are 16 companies in the restaurant industry, with a mix of AS (limited liability companies) and Special Organizations. The most notable companies include:

• Husly Café & Catering AS (23 employees, sales of 5.7M NOK, EBITDA margin of -6%)
• The Bull Inn AS (11 employees, EBITDA margin of 8%, positive operating result)
• Studentsamskipnaden I Sørøst Norge Mat Og Drikke Bø (5 employees, EBITDA margin of 34%, high operating result)

Organizational statistics show that AS companies account for 13 companies with 180 employees, while Special Organizations account for 1 company with 5 employees. This composition suggests that most companies are small and medium-sized businesses.

The restaurant industry in Midt Telemark is most concentrated in Bø I Telemark, with 13 companies and 158 employees. In Gvarv, there is only one company, Langrønningen Café AS, which has 27 employees but shows zero sales and zero operating result. It is interesting to note that Bø has a higher average sales per employee (NOK 242,000) compared to Gvarv, which has no activity.

This shows that Bø is the main center for the restaurant industry in the municipality.

In Midt Telemark, no bankruptcies have been registered in the restaurant industry in recent years. All listed companies show the status not bankrupt, even though some of them have negative operating results. For example, Pizza Fjoset AS and Midt Telemark Pizza AS both have negative EBITDA margins (-1% and -1% respectively), which may indicate economic challenges. This should be closely monitored, even though no bankruptcies have been registered yet.

Development Trends for the Restaurant Industry

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Midt Telemark, data shows a rising trend in the number of employees (from 128 in 2024 to 163 in 2025) and a stabilization in sales (36.6M in 2024 and 37.8M in 2025). This indicates that the industry has found a stable level after a period of fluctuations. It is also possible to see a positive development in EBITDA margins for some companies, such as The Bull Inn AS (8%) and Studentsamskipnaden I Sørøst Norge Mat Og Drikke Bø (34%).

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations in the municipality, especially in Bø I Telemark, where there is a stronger presence of restaurant businesses.

Development Trends for the Broader Category (Restaurant / Café)

The broader category restaurant / café in Midt Telemark has 28 companies, showing that this category is more extensive than the restaurant industry alone. Sales in this category have grown from 41.4M in 2020 to 50.1M in 2025, with an average annual growth of 8.0%. This shows that cafés and other similar businesses have a stronger economic development compared to the restaurant industry.

Peer companies in the restaurant / café category:

This shows that cafés have a more variable economic development, with both positive and negative EBITDA margins.

The restaurant industry in Midt Telemark shows stable development with increasing number of employees and gradual stabilization in sales. Bø I Telemark is the main center for the activity, with a higher concentration of companies and employees. For entrepreneurs, opportunities are visible in this industry, especially in Bø, where there is a stronger presence of restaurant businesses. At the same time, data shows that the broader category restaurant / café has a stronger economic development, which can be an important factor to consider when establishing new companies.