The Restaurant Industry in Seljord: Current Status and Future Prospects

The restaurant industry in Seljord is a small but dynamic sector with four registered companies. In recent years, the industry has experienced both development and challenges, with a combination of stabilization and revenue and employee count declines. Although there are few companies, data shows variation in financial health, with both positive and negative indicators. The industry shows a weak positive trend in 2022, but there are still challenges related to visibility and economic stability.

Key figures at a glance:

• Number of companies: 4
• Number of employees (2025): 20
• Annual revenue (2025): NOK 1.4 million
• EBITDA margin: 2% (for Nordbygdi Pub Og Bardrift AS)
• Gross margin: 73% (for Nordbygdi Pub Og Bardrift AS)

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore locations in Seljord for the restaurant industry, with a focus on natural conditions and market prospects.

The restaurant industry in Seljord has experienced complex development in recent years. Annual revenue has varied between NOK 1.4 million (2023) and NOK 4.6 million (2016), with a decline of 51.1% from 2024 to 2025. There is a clear decline in revenue after 2020, but a slight increase in 2022 (70.1%).

Number of employees has been more volatile:

• 2016: 55 employees
• 2020: 12 employees (decline of 73.3%)
• 2022: 16 employees (increase of 25.0%)
• 2025: 20 employees (increase of 25.0%)

Financial indicators:

• Nordbygdi Pub Og Bardrift AS has an EBITDA margin of 2% and a gross margin of 73%, while Wassanas Thaimat AS has negative figures for both EBITDA and operating profit.

Conclusion: The industry shows a weak positive trend in 2022, but there are still challenges related to visibility and economic stability.

There are four companies registered in the restaurant industry in Seljord, with different organizational forms and financial profiles:

Observations:

• Nordbygdi Pub Og Bardrift AS is the only company with both employees and positive EBITDA.
• Wassanas Thaimat AS has negative figures for both operating profit and EBITDA.
• Ingelstad & Stenstad Eiendom AS has a high EBITDA margin (78%) but no revenue.
• Nina Johnsen has no reported financial data.

All four companies in the restaurant industry in Seljord are registered in the Seljord area. No activity has been reported from other districts or municipalities. The only company with employees (Nordbygdi Pub Og Bardrift AS) is located at Brøløsvegen 42, while the other companies have addresses in Seljord or Flatdal.

Conclusion:

• The industry is concentrated in Seljord, with a focus on Brøløsvegen 42 and Ingrid Slettens veg 20.
• There is no data on activity in other districts within the municipality.

The industry has experienced both stabilization and decline in recent years. There are no reported bankruptcies, but there is variation in financial health:

• Nordbygdi Pub Og Bardrift AS has a stable EBITDA margin of 2% and an operating profit of NOK 37K.
• Wassanas Thaimat AS has negative figures for both operating profit and EBITDA (NOK -74K).
• Ingelstad & Stenstad Eiendom AS has a high EBITDA margin (78%) but no revenue.

Conclusion:

• The industry is stable in terms of bankruptcy, but there is variation in financial health.
• Wassanas Thaimat AS and Nina Johnsen have negative or missing financial data, which may indicate challenges.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Seljord, the following should be considered:

• Market prospects: The industry shows a weak positive trend in 2022, but there are still challenges related to visibility and economic stability.
• Competitive landscape: There are four companies in the industry, but many have negative or missing financial data, which may indicate a potential market for new players.
• Location: The industry is concentrated in Seljord, with a focus on Brøløsvegen 42 and Ingrid Slettens veg 20. There may be opportunities to establish oneself in other districts.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in Seljord, but with a focus on economic stability and market prospects. SmartGrunder can help explore locations and market prospects.

The broader restaurant/café industry in Seljord has a larger number of companies (6) compared to the restaurant industry (4). There is a clear decline in revenue from 2016 (NOK 17M) to 2025 (NOK 1.4M), with a decline of 51.1%.

Contrast to the restaurant industry:

• Number of employees: The broader industry has 33 employees in 2026, while the restaurant industry has 20 employees in 2025.
• Annual revenue: The broader industry has higher revenue (NOK 17M in 2016) compared to the restaurant industry (NOK 4.6M in 2016).

Peer companies in the broader industry:

• Eldhuset Dybedal (café) has NOK 0 in revenue and EBITDA.
• Sjøormen Kro (café) has 30 employees and NOK 0 in revenue.

Conclusion: The broader industry has higher revenue and number of employees, but there are still challenges related to visibility and economic stability.

The restaurant industry in Seljord is a small but dynamic sector with both challenges and opportunities. There are four companies in the industry, with a combination of stabilization and decline in revenue and number of employees. The broader industry (restaurant/café) has higher revenue and number of employees, but there are still challenges related to visibility and economic stability.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in Seljord, but with a focus on economic stability and market prospects. SmartGrunder can help explore locations and market prospects.