The Restaurant Industry in Strand: Current Situation and Future Prospects

The restaurant industry in Strand has grown from NOK 10.7 million in sales in 2016 to NOK 22.2 million in 2025, with an average annual growth of 10.5%. There are 17 companies in the industry, with 71 employees in 2026. One of the most notable developments is the large variation in company performance: while Ryfylke Bakeri & Konditori AS had an EBITDA margin of 10% in 2023, Chihiro AS had a negative EBITDA margin of -56% in the same year. A single bankruptcy case (Meat & Eat AS) has also affected the industry, but there are no indications that this has led to a systematic decline in the industry.

There is a clear geographical variation in activity: Tau has 3 companies with 44 employees, while Jørpeland has 4 companies with 39 employees. Jørpeland also has a higher EBITDA margin (8%) compared to Tau (4%). This suggests that Jørpeland may be a more attractive location for new restaurants.

The sales development for the restaurant industry in Strand has been fluctuating, with an increase from NOK 10.7 million in 2016 to NOK 22.8 million in 2023, followed by a decline to NOK 16.7 million in 2024. In 2025, the industry saw a new increase to NOK 22.2 million. Employee numbers have been more stable, with a peak of 112 employees in 2021 and a decline to 71 employees in 2026. This decline may be due to several companies reducing their workforce or closing down.

Yearly development:

The most significant sales increase occurred in 2021 (+17%), while the most significant decline was in 2024 (-26.7%). Employee numbers had a large increase in 2021 (+64.7%) and a significant decline in 2026 (-22.8%).

There are 17 companies in the restaurant industry in Strand, with the following organizational forms:

• AS (7 companies): This is the most common organizational form, with 83 employees and an average EBITDA margin of 6%.
• DA (1 company): Mobi Snack Bar DA has no employees and no sales.
• ENK (1 company): Eide Solutions ENK has no employees and no sales.
• KBO (2 companies): These companies have no employees and no sales.

The most notable companies are:

1. Ryfylke Bakeri & Konditori AS: 13 employees, NOK 13.1 million in sales, NOK 1.3 million in EBITDA (10% margin) in 2023.
2. Tau Pizza Kafe AS: 5 employees, NOK 7.0 million in sales, NOK 583,000 in EBITDA (8% margin) in 2022.
3. Meat & Eat AS: Bankruptcy in 2026, with 0 employees and 0 sales.

There are also several other companies with 0 employees and 0 sales, such as Is Paradiset AS and Era Pub & Restaurant AS.

The restaurant industry in Strand is divided between two main locations: Tau and Jørpeland. Here is a comparison of the two locations:

Jørpeland has higher sales, more employees, and a better EBITDA margin compared to Tau. This suggests that Jørpeland may be a more attractive location for new restaurants. It is also worth noting that Jørpeland had a sales growth of 57% in 2023, while Tau had a sales growth of 5% in the same year.

There has been one bankruptcy case in the restaurant industry in Strand: Meat & Eat AS in Tau. This company had 0 employees and 0 sales in 2026. There are also several other companies with 0 employees and 0 sales, such as Is Paradiset AS and Era Pub & Restaurant AS. This may indicate a certain level of uncertainty in the industry, especially for companies that do not have stable income.

There are also large variations in performance between companies. While Ryfylke Bakeri & Konditori AS had an EBITDA margin of 10% in 2023, Chihiro AS had a negative EBITDA margin of -56% in the same year. This suggests that it is important to have a good business model and efficient operations to survive in the industry.

The restaurant industry in Strand has had a fluctuating development in recent years, with an increase in sales from NOK 10.7 million in 2016 to NOK 22.2 million in 2025. The most significant increase occurred in 2021 (+17%), while the most significant decline was in 2024 (-26.7%). This may be due to variations in the economic cycle and business operations.

There is also a clear geographical variation in activity: Jørpeland has higher sales, more employees, and a better EBITDA margin compared to Tau. This suggests that Jørpeland may be a more attractive location for new restaurants. It is also worth noting that Jørpeland had a sales growth of 57% in 2023, while Tau had a sales growth of 5% in the same year.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Strand, it may be advantageous to focus on Jørpeland, where there is a higher level of activity and better economic performance. It is also important to be aware of the variations in performance between companies, and to ensure that one has a good business model and efficient operations to survive in the industry.

The broader industry restaurant/café in Strand has a larger number of companies (23) compared to the restaurant industry (17). Sales in this industry have grown from NOK 24.2 million in 2016 to NOK 48.9 million in 2025, with an average annual growth of 11.2%. Employee numbers have also grown from 82 to 148 during the same period.

The most notable companies in this industry are:

1. Chen As (burger restaurant): 9 employees, NOK 9.8 million in sales, NOK 1.5 million in EBITDA.
2. Kniv & Gaffel As Avd Cafe (café): 12 employees, NOK 10.6 million in sales, NOK 770,000 in EBITDA.
3. Pizzabakeren Jørpeland (pizza delivery/takeaway): 21 employees, NOK 12.1 million in sales, NOK 55,100 in EBITDA.

The broader industry therefore has a higher level of activity and better economic performance compared to the restaurant industry. This suggests that it may be advantageous to focus on this industry for entrepreneurs seeking to start a restaurant in Strand.

The restaurant industry in Strand has grown in recent years, but has also experienced fluctuations in sales and number of employees. There has been one bankruptcy case, but there are no indications that this has led to a systematic decline in the industry. Jørpeland has proven to be a more attractive location for restaurants compared to Tau, with higher sales, more employees, and a better EBITDA margin.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Strand, it may be advantageous to focus on Jørpeland, where there is a higher level of activity and better economic performance. It is also important to be aware of the variations in performance between companies, and to ensure that one has a good business model and efficient operations to survive in the industry.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Strand for the restaurant industry, based on data about industry activity, competitiveness, and economic conditions.