The Restaurant Industry in Sortland: Current Situation and Future Opportunities

The restaurant industry in Sortland is an important part of the local economy, with 18 registered companies and 107 employees in 2026. The industry has shown variation in its development, with a sales increase of +13.3% from 2024 to 2025 and an employee growth of +17.6% during the same period. The most prominent companies are AS entities such as Vesterålen Food As and Steirotoppen As, which have higher revenues and profit margins compared to others. The industry has not recorded any bankruptcies, but there is variation in financial health, with some companies operating with negative EBITDA values.

Sales and employees in Sortland's restaurant industry (2016–2026):

The industry experienced a significant sales increase of +42.6% from 2018 to 2019, but a decline of -33.1% in 2020, likely due to the pandemic. There has been a gradual recovery since, with a sales increase of +13.3% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees has been unstable, with an increase of +31.9% from 2023 to 2024 and a decline of -4.2% from 2024 to 2025.

Sortland has 18 registered companies in the restaurant industry, with the following organizational forms:

• AS (9 companies): Total of 107 employees, 29.5M in sales and 2.3M in EBITDA.
• Komm (1 company): Sortland Municipality Kulturkafeen, with 25 employees, but no sales or revenue.

Key companies included:

• Vesterålen Food As (Rådhusgata 18): 28 employees, 16.4M in sales and 1.3M in EBITDA.
• Steirotoppen As (Strandgata 26): 18 employees, 8.5M in sales and 1.4M in EBITDA.
• Milano Pizzarestaurant As (Torggata 17): 4 employees, 4.2M in sales, but with a negative EBITDA of -371.0K.

New companies: Kystens Kafe As (2025), Å Ishi As (2026), and Nye Hong Kong Restaurant As (2023) have no reported sales or revenue yet.

All 18 companies in Sortland's restaurant industry are registered in Sortland. There is no activity in other districts or municipalities. The most active addresses are:

• Rådhusgata 18 (Vesterålen Food As, 28 employees)
• Strandgata 26 (Steirotoppen As, 18 employees)
• Torggata 17 (Milano Pizzarestaurant As, 4 employees)
• Sjøgata 30 (Kystens Kafe As, 13 employees)

There is no spread of activity to other districts in the municipality.

Bankruptcies and financial health:

• No companies in the industry have recorded bankruptcy in Sortland.
• Milano Pizzarestaurant As has a negative EBITDA of -371.0K, which may indicate financial challenges.
• Sortland Municipality Kulturkafeen has no sales or revenue, which may be due to public funding.

Variation in financial health:

• Vesterålen Food As and Steirotoppen As have high profit margins (67%) and EBITDA margins (7–16%).
• New companies such as Kystens Kafe As and Å Ishi As have no reported financial data yet.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The restaurant industry in Sortland shows sales and employee growth from 2024 to 2025, which can be a positive indication for new companies. However, there is variation in financial health, and it is important to analyze competitors carefully. Vesterålen Food As and Steirotoppen As are leading companies with high revenues and profit margins, which can provide a competitive starting point for new companies. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies based on local tourism and quality service.

Outlook for Broader Industry (Restaurant/Café)

The parent category (restaurant/café) has 22 companies in Sortland, compared to 18 in the restaurant industry. There is a gradual increase in sales and employees in the parent category, with a sales increase of +1.7% from 2024 to 2025. Peer companies in the parent category include:

• Lille Kvitnes Kafe As (Torggata 15): 0 employees, 0 sales.
• Pizzabakeren Sortland (Nordre Frydenlund alle 6C): 0 employees, 0 sales.
• Saeliao Thai Esan Take Away (Kjøpmannsgata 14C): 1 employee, 0 sales.
• D1 Sortland As (Sjøgata 30): 0 employees, -452.0K in EBITDA.

The parent category has a slightly higher sales volume (30.3M in 2025) compared to the restaurant industry (29.5M in 2025), but there is less variation in financial health.

The restaurant industry in Sortland has shown gradual recovery after the pandemic, with an increase in sales and employees in 2025. There are opportunities for new companies, especially in standalone cafés and takeaway businesses, but it is important to analyze competitors and financial health carefully. Vesterålen Food As and Steirotoppen As are leading companies with high revenues and profit margins. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies based on local tourism and quality service.