The Restaurant Industry in Steinkjer: Current Status and Future Outlook

The restaurant industry in Steinkjer is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 27 registered companies in 2025. The industry has shown variation in its development, with both increasing and decreasing trends over the years. There are 133 employees in 2025, and sales amount to NOK 48.8 million. Key figures such as EBITDA margin and labor costs indicate a mix of profitable and challenging companies. The industry has a relatively stable structure, with AS as the main form of organization, and there are no registered bankruptcies among the reported companies. Future perspectives for entrepreneurs will depend on key market areas such as location, differentiation, and operational efficiency.

Sales Development (2016–2025):

Employee Development (2016–2026):

Sales experienced a strong increase in 2021 (+18.7%) but fell again in 2022 (-22.7%). The number of employees had a significant decline in 2024 (-24.3%) before a mild increase in 2025. This indicates uncertainty in the industry, especially in recent years.

In Steinkjer, 27 companies in the restaurant industry are registered in 2025. The key companies include:

• Matin As (Kongens gate 28, Steinkjer): 33 employees, 0 sales and 0 operating profit.
• Steinkjer Brød & Cirkus As (Svein Jarls gate 14, Steinkjer): 17 employees, 8.3M sales and 913.0K operating profit.
• Sparbu Kro As (Steinkjervegen 1207, Sparbu): 16 employees, 4.7M sales and -88.0K operating profit.
• Thai Thai Steinkjer As (Sjøfartsgata 2, Steinkjer): 13 employees, 9.7M sales and 174.0K operating profit.

Organizational Form Statistics:

• AS (14 companies): 154 employees, 56.8M operating income, 5% EBITDA margin.
• SA (1 company): 10 employees, 0 operating income, 0% EBITDA margin.
• STI (1 company): 4 employees, 1.7M operating income, 3% EBITDA margin.

Most companies are organized as AS, indicating a relatively stable structure in the industry.

Distribution of Activity in the Municipality:

Steinkjer is the dominant area with 14 companies and 142 employees. Sparbu and Beitstad have less activity, with Sparbu being the only company with positive sales and negative operating profit. Beitstad has no activity in 2025.

Bankruptcy Statistics:

None of the reported companies in the restaurant industry in Steinkjer are registered as bankrupt in 2025. This indicates a relatively stable industry, even though some companies have negative operating profits (e.g., Sparbu Kro As with -88.0K). However, there are no bankruptcies, which may be due to companies having sufficient funds to maintain operations.

Operating Profits:

• Steinkjer Brød & Cirkus As has a positive EBITDA (1.2M) and high EBITDA margin (13%).
• Thai Thai Steinkjer As has a low EBITDA margin (1%) but high sales (9.7M).
• Chef Steinkjer As has negative EBITDA (-455.0K) and low sales (5.7M), indicating operational challenges.

The industry has a mix of profitable and challenging companies, which can be a challenge for new entrepreneurs.

For entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry in Steinkjer, it is important to consider both opportunities and challenges. Key figures show that the industry has an uncertain development, with both increasing and decreasing trends over the years. Some companies have shown strong growth (e.g., New China House As with 229% sales growth in 2024), while others have negative operating profits.

Opportunities:

• Niche Markets: Companies such as Thai Thai Steinkjer As and Steinkjer Brød & Cirkus As have shown that profitability is possible in specialized segments.
• Location: Steinkjer is the dominant area with 14 companies, indicating good infrastructure and customer base.

Challenges:

• Competitiveness: With 27 companies in the municipality, it can be challenging to differentiate oneself.
• Operating Profits: Some companies have negative operating profits, which can be a warning for new entrepreneurs.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal locations and strategies to ensure profitability in this industry.

Parent Industry Development (Restaurant / Café)

Comparison with Broader Industry Group:

• Number of Companies: 40 companies in the parent group (restaurant / café) compared to 27 in the restaurant industry.
• Sales: The parent group had 86.0M in 2025, while the restaurant industry had 48.8M. This shows that cafes and other sub-industries contribute to a larger sales volume.
• Employees: The parent group had 289 employees in 2026, while the restaurant industry had 168 employees in 2026. This indicates that cafes and similar businesses have a larger workforce.

Peer Companies in the Parent Group:

The parent group has a higher sales volume and more employees, which can be an advantage for entrepreneurs looking to expand into cafes or similar businesses.

The restaurant industry in Steinkjer has a mix of profitable and challenging companies, with a relatively stable structure. There are opportunities for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in specialized segments or in areas with a high customer base. However, it is important to be aware of competitiveness and operating profits. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find optimal locations and strategies to ensure profitability in this industry.