The Restaurant Industry in Sunnfjord: Current Status and Future Prospects

The restaurant industry in Sunnfjord is an important part of the local economy, with 30 registered companies in the municipality (of which 16 are listed in the data). The industry has experienced variations in sales and number of employees over time, with a sales decline of 28.4% from 2024 to 2025, but an increase of 30.9% in the number of employees during the same period. The most prominent companies include Rast Restaurantdrift As and Lunsjkafe As, which have positive EBITDA and stable operations. At the same time, bankruptcy statistics show that two companies have gone bankrupt, indicating some dynamism in the industry.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Sunnfjord for restaurant operations, based on local conditions and development trends.

Sales and employees over time:

Trend analysis:

• Sales experienced a sharp decline from 2018 to 2019 (-30.9%), but stabilized somewhat in 2022 with an increase of +20.8%.
• The number of employees had a significant decline in 2024 (-20.5%), but an increase in 2026 (+30.9%), which may indicate a renewal of operations or adaptation to market conditions.

In Sunnfjord, there are 30 registered companies in the restaurant industry, of which 16 are listed in the data. The most prominent companies include:

• Rast Restaurantdrift As (Storehagen 7, Førde): AS entity, 29 employees, EBITDA of 2.8M NOK.
• Lunsjkafe As (Naustdalsvegen 1A, Førde): AS entity, 8 employees, EBITDA of 113.0K NOK.
• Elvesus As (Elvevegen 13, Førde): AS entity, 49 employees, but with 0 sales and 0 EBITDA.

Organizational forms:

• AS (9 companies, 143 employees): Dominates the industry with higher sales and EBITDA.
• ENK (2 companies, 18 employees): Have lower operating results and no sales in the data.

Bankruptcy: Two companies have gone bankrupt, including Mix Mat As and Sunnfjord Restaurantdrift As, indicating some risk in the industry.

Restaurant operations in Sunnfjord are most concentrated in Førde, with 6 companies and 118 employees. Other important areas include:

Førde is the most active area, with higher sales and EBITDA than other areas. Viksdalen and Vassenden have lower activity, with some companies having negative EBITDA.

Bankruptcy statistics:

• Mix Mat As (Naustdalsvegen 4, Førde): 0 sales, 0 employees, 0 EBITDA.
• Sunnfjord Restaurantdrift As (Hafstadvegen 31A, Førde): 5.7M NOK sales, -1.5M NOK EBITDA, 0 employees.

Bankruptcy analysis:

• Two companies have gone bankrupt, which may indicate economic challenges in the industry, especially for companies with a low number of employees and negative EBITDA.
• Førde has the highest number of bankrupt companies, which may be an indicator of competitive pressure or economic conditions in the area.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a restaurant in Sunnfjord, the data show the following:

• Sales: A decline of 28.4% from 2024 to 2025, but an increase of 30.9% in the number of employees during the same period. This may indicate a renewal of operations or adaptation to market conditions.
• Bankruptcy risk: Two companies have gone bankrupt, indicating some risk in the industry, especially for companies with a low number of employees and negative EBITDA.
• Competitive pressure: Førde is the most competitive area, with higher sales and EBITDA than other areas. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in areas with higher operating results and less competitive pressure.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Sunnfjord for restaurant operations, based on local conditions and development trends.

Development trends for broader category (restaurant / café)

Comparison with broader category:

• Number of companies: Broader category (restaurant / café) has 40 companies, while the restaurant industry has 30 companies.
• Sales: Broader category had 104.0M NOK in 2016, while the restaurant industry had 55.1M NOK in the same year.
• Number of employees: Broader category had 325 employees in 2016, while the restaurant industry had 256 employees.

Peer companies in broader category:

• Bambus Førde As (sushi restaurant): 12.3M NOK sales, 2.2M NOK EBITDA, 15 employees.
• Waro As (pizza restaurant): 15.5M NOK sales, 680.0K NOK EBITDA, 33 employees.
• Venezia Pizza Restaurant As (pizza restaurant): 5.6M NOK sales, 343.0K NOK EBITDA, 9 employees.

Conclusion: Broader category (restaurant / café) has higher sales and number of employees than the restaurant industry, indicating that cafés and specialized restaurants may have better operating results in Sunnfjord.

The restaurant industry in Sunnfjord has both opportunities and challenges. With 30 companies and some dynamism in the industry, it is possible to find established companies with positive EBITDA and stable operations. At the same time, bankruptcy statistics show that there is some risk in the industry, especially for companies with a low number of employees and negative EBITDA. Entrepreneurs should consider establishing themselves in areas with higher operating results and less competitive pressure, such as Førde. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Sunnfjord for restaurant operations, based on local conditions and development trends.