The Restaurant Industry in Skien: Current Status and Future Outlook

The restaurant industry in Skien is an important part of the local economy, with 75 registered companies in the municipality. In 2025, the industry had 351 employees, indicating a stable but fluctuating development over the years. Sales grew by 5.6% from 2023 to 2024, but fell by 1.6% from 2024 to 2025. There have also been three bankruptcies in the industry, showing that the market has its challenges. At the same time, there are several companies with high EBITDA margins, such as Gulset Grill Og Pizza As with 14%, which may indicate potential opportunities for new players.

Over time, sales in the restaurant industry in Skien grew by 6.1% from 2016 to 2017, but have since experienced fluctuations. In 2025, sales amounted to NOK 127.1 million, which is a decline from 2024. Employee numbers have also risen and fallen over the years, with an increase from 326 to 351 employees from 2024 to 2025. EBITDA margins average 8%, showing that many companies have good cost control. However, there are also companies with negative EBITDA values, such as Kebab Campino As, which may serve as a warning for new players.

In Skien, there are 75 companies in the restaurant industry, with the dominant organizational form being AS (30 companies). The most well-known companies include Strøm Mat & Bar As, Gulset Grill Og Pizza As, and Kesar As, all of which have high sales and EBITDA values. Some companies, such as Pazzo Restaurantdrift As and Lille Ludvig As, have not yet achieved revenues, which may indicate that they are in the start-up phase. There are also companies with a low number of employees, such as Kebab Campino As with 12 employees, which may indicate small, specialized businesses.

Most companies in the restaurant industry in Skien are located in the city center, with 33 companies and 373 employees in Skien. There is also a registered operational income of NOK 145.7 million and sales of NOK 141.3 million. The EBITDA margin is at 8%, showing good cost control. However, there are also companies with negative EBITDA values, such as Kebab Campino As, which may serve as a warning for new players.

There have been three bankruptcies in the restaurant industry in Skien, including Gamle Skien As, Jacob & Gabriel As, and The Blue Taj As. These companies had negative EBITDA values or no revenues, which may indicate that they faced economic challenges. There are also companies with a low number of employees, such as Kebab Campino As with 12 employees, which may indicate small, specialized businesses. However, there are also companies with high EBITDA margins, such as Gulset Grill Og Pizza As with 14%, which may indicate potential opportunities for new players.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Skien, the data show that there are both opportunities and challenges. Sales grew by 5.6% from 2023 to 2024, but fell by 1.6% from 2024 to 2025. There have also been three bankruptcies in the industry, showing that the market has its challenges. At the same time, there are several companies with high EBITDA margins, such as Gulset Grill Og Pizza As with 14%, which may indicate potential opportunities for new players. It is also important to note that there are companies with a low number of employees, such as Kebab Campino As with 12 employees, which may indicate small, specialized businesses.

In the broader category restaurant / café in Skien, there are 102 registered companies, showing that the industry is more extensive than in the individual restaurant category. Sales in this category grew by 9.9% from 2024 to 2025, indicating a stronger development than in the individual restaurant category. There are also more companies with high EBITDA margins, such as Pizzanet As with NOK 2.0 million, which may indicate potential opportunities for new players. There are also companies with a low number of employees, such as Geiteryggen Cafe As with 15 employees, which may indicate small, specialized businesses.

The restaurant industry in Skien has both opportunities and challenges. With 75 companies and 351 employees in 2025, the data show a stable but fluctuating development. There have also been three bankruptcies, showing that the market has its challenges. At the same time, there are several companies with high EBITDA margins, such as Gulset Grill Og Pizza As with 14%, which may indicate potential opportunities for new players. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Skien for restaurant operations, based on data and market analyses.