The Restaurant Industry in Saltdal: Current Status and Future Prospects

The restaurant industry in Saltdal has shown a complex development in recent years. With 7 registered companies in the municipality, including both restaurants and cafes, the industry is characterized by both challenges and slight signs of stabilization. Although sales and the number of employees have significantly decreased from 2016 to 2021, there has been a weak increase in recent years. This indicates that the industry still has potential, but with significant challenges in the form of competition and economic pressure.

Economic Trends

Sales and Employees

Sales have fallen by over 50% from 2016 to 2019, but have stabilized somewhat in recent years. The number of employees has also shown significant variations, with a peak of 63 in 2018 and a decline to 30 in 2025. This shows that the industry has been affected by both economic challenges and changing labor demand.

Registered Companies

In Saltdal, the following companies are registered in the restaurant industry:

1. Norlandtop As – Kirkegata 6, Rognan (14 employees, AS, incorporated 2023-12-04)
2. Perlys Gatekjøkken As – Strandgata 19B, Rognan (10 employees, AS, incorporated 2013-01-29)
3. Oasen Kafe As – Jernbanegata 12, Rognan (9 employees, AS, incorporated 2019-05-07)
4. Hongri As – Kirkegata 26A, Rognan (4 employees, AS, incorporated 2020-01-16)
5. Anne,s Hjerterom As – Jernbanegata 10, Rognan (0 employees, AS, incorporated 2024-11-30)
6. Oasen Kafe – Jernbanegata 12, Rognan (0 employees, AS, incorporated 1965-12-31)
7. Shanbin Mathus Qiu Xiaohua – Håndverkeren 13, Rognan (0 employees, ENK, incorporated 1997-08-01)

Most companies are organized as AS, but there is also an ENK (sole proprietorship). Some companies have negative EBITDA values, which indicates economic challenges.

In Saltdal, activity in the restaurant industry is most concentrated in Rognan. Here, there are 4 companies with a total of 37 employees and sales of 8.2M NOK. Rognan is therefore the main center for the restaurant industry in the municipality. There are no other districts or areas reporting activity in this industry.

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the registered companies in the restaurant industry in Saltdal have gone bankrupt, which shows a certain degree of stabilization. However, financial data indicate that some companies have negative EBITDA values, such as Oasen Kafe As with -546.0K NOK. This suggests that some companies have very challenging economic conditions. There are also several companies with zero sales, such as Hongri As and Anne,s Hjerterom As, which may indicate that they are not actively operating.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant or cafe company in Saltdal, it is important to be aware of both the opportunities and challenges. Although sales have stabilized somewhat in recent years, competition in Rognan is strong, and many companies have negative or zero economic results. It may be a challenge to establish oneself in a market area with existing companies with weak economic results. However, there may be opportunities to fill gaps in the market, especially if there is a need for new offerings or specializations.

Outlook for Broader Category (Restaurant/Cafe)

The broader category restaurant/cafe in Saltdal has 10 companies, which shows that cafes and similar businesses are more represented than just restaurants. Sales in this category have also significantly decreased, but have stabilized somewhat in recent years. One of the key peer companies in this category is Røkland Kafe Og Grillkjøkken As, which has an EBITDA of 1.4M NOK and 11 employees. This shows that there are companies in this category with better economic results than those in the restaurant industry. This could be an important differentiator for entrepreneurs considering establishing themselves in this broader category.

The restaurant industry in Saltdal has shown a complex development with both declines and slight signs of stabilization. With 7 companies and a focus on Rognan, it is an important market area, but there are challenges related to competition and economic pressure. Entrepreneurs should consider both opportunities and challenges, and it may be profitable to explore opportunities in the broader category restaurant/cafe. SmartGrunder can help analyze potential locations and improve the chances of success in this industry.