Industry · municipality
The Restaurant Industry in Stjørdal: Current Situation and Future Prospects
Economic trends, companies, and opportunities for entrepreneurs in the municipality of Stjørdal
Brief overview of the restaurant industry in Stjørdal
The restaurant industry in Stjørdal is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 30 registered companies in 2025. The industry has shown both strength and instability over time, with a significant sales decline of 28.3% from 2024 to 2025. Nevertheless, the number of employees increased by 13.6% from 2021 to 2022 and 32.0% from 2022 to 2023, indicating a certain level of resilience. A single bankruptcy (Aron Sebs As) and variations in EBITDA margins (from -89% in Hegra to 14% in Amore Stjørdal As) show that the industry has both successes and challenges. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find strategic addresses in Stjørdal for this industry.
Economic trends in the restaurant industry
Economic trends
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 59.6M | 135 |
| 2025 | 47.6M | 185 |
Sales have shown significant variations, with an increase of 21.6% from 2017 to 2018, but a sharp decline of 28.3% from 2024 to 2025. The number of employees increased by 13.6% from 2021 to 2022 and 32.0% from 2022 to 2023, but has since fallen by 14.6% from 2025 to 2026. This shows a dynamic industry with both growth periods and challenges.
Companies in the restaurant industry in Stjørdal
Registered companies
In Stjørdal, the following companies are registered in the restaurant industry:
- N'ice Invest As (Stokmovegen 2): 18 employees, EBITDA 137.0K NOK
- Karma Indisk Restaurant As (Kjøpmannsgata 40): 17 employees, EBITDA 0 NOK
- Aroi Asia Stjørdal As (Sandfærhus 24): 15 employees, EBITDA 0 NOK
- Hanofa As (Kjøpmannsgata 29B): 15 employees, EBITDA 1.9M NOK
- Amore Stjørdal As (Kjøpmannsgata 15A): 13 employees, EBITDA 2.3M NOK
Most companies are organized as AS (15 companies), and there is a mix of established businesses (e.g., Hanofa As, founded in 1992) and new companies (e.g., Vårt Lille Kaffehus Stjørdal As, founded in 2022).
Distribution of restaurant activity in Stjørdal
Distribution by location
| Location | Number of companies | Employees | Sales (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stjørdal | 13 | 141 | 67.8M |
| Hell | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Hegra | 1 | 4 | 409.0K |
Stjørdal is the main hub for restaurant activity, with 13 companies and 141 employees. Hell and Hegra have less activity, with some companies operating with negative EBITDA (e.g., Walberg Selskapsmat Drift As in Hegra with -367.0K NOK EBITDA).
Dynamics and risks in the industry
Dynamics and risks
- Bankruptcy: Aron Sebs As (Ole Rises gate 10) is the only registered bankrupt company in the industry in 2025.
- Establishment and decline: New companies such as Vårt Lille Kaffehus Stjørdal As (founded in 2022) and Møteplassen As (founded in 2024) still have no sales or employees.
- Different EBITDA margins: Amore Stjørdal As has a high EBITDA margin of 14%, while Walberg Selskapsmat Drift As in Hegra has a negative margin of -89%.
The industry has both successful businesses and companies in difficulty, showing a high degree of variation in profitability.
Outlook for entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry
Development for entrepreneurs
For entrepreneurs in the restaurant industry in Stjørdal, it is important to be aware of the following:
- Growth periods: Sales increased by 8.9% from 2023 to 2024, and the number of employees increased by 32.0% from 2022 to 2023.
- Competition: Stjørdal has 13 companies, which can provide both opportunities for establishment and challenges with competition.
- Risks: A sales decline of 28.3% from 2024 to 2025 and a bankruptcy show that the industry can be vulnerable to economic variations.
SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find addresses in Stjørdal that have potential for restaurant activity, based on market data and local competitiveness.
Challenges and opportunities in the broader category
Comparison with broader category
In the broader category restaurant / café in Stjørdal, there are 36 companies, showing that the restaurant industry is part of a larger sector. Compared to this broader category:
- Sales: The restaurant industry had 47.6M NOK in 2025, while the broader category had 289.0M NOK.
- Employees: The restaurant industry had 185 employees in 2025, while the broader category had 466 employees.
Peer companies in the broader category
| Name | Address | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Select Service Partner As | Trondheim lufthavn Værnes | 239.1M | 21.2M |
| Sabrura Stjørdal As | Torgkvartalet | 15.9M | 1.1M |
| Jordbærpikene Stjørdal As | Torgkvartalet | 8.4M | 341.0K |
These companies show that there are opportunities for higher sales and profitability in the broader category, especially in airport and sushi restaurants.
Other companies in restaurant / kafé (not in restaurant)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Select Service Partner As Avd Trondheim Lufthavn Værnes | airport restaurant / cafe | Trondheim lufthavn Værnes, 7502 Stjørdal | NOK 239.1M | 250 | NOK 21.2M |
| Sabrura Stjørdal As | sushi restaurant | Torgkvartalet Kjøpesenter|Stokmovegen 2, 7500 Stjørdal | NOK 15.9M | 31 | NOK 1.1M |
| Jordbærpikene Stjørdal As | cafe | Torgkvartalet|Stokmovegen 2, 7500 Stjørdal | NOK 8.4M | 16 | NOK 341.0K |
| Dromedar Kaffebar Avd 15 Torgkvartalet Stjørdal | coffeehouse | Stokmovegen 2, 7500 Stjørdal | NOK 2.5M | 8 | NOK 122.2K |
| Fjøl Cafe | cafe | Wessels veg 82, 7502 Stjørdal | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Pizzabakeren Stjørdal | pizza delivery / takeaway | Kjøpmannsgata 21, 7500 Stjørdal | NOK 0 | 15 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion and recommendations
The restaurant industry in Stjørdal has both strengths and challenges. With 30 companies and a certain level of resilience (e.g., Hanofa As with 1.9M NOK EBITDA), there are opportunities for establishment, especially in the center of Stjørdal. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of the risk of sales decline and competition from both local and broader categories. Entrepreneurs should consider combining local understanding with strategic location to maximize the probability of success.