The Restaurant Industry in Våler: Current Situation and Future Opportunities

The restaurant industry in Våler has shown both strong growth and challenges over the past few years. In 2025, there are four registered companies in the industry, with a total of nine employees. Sales have experienced significant fluctuations, with a peak of over 4.9 million Norwegian kroner in 2017, followed by a decline to zero in 2021. There has been a clear recovery since 2023, with sales reaching 1.4 million Norwegian kroner in 2025. The industry is part of a larger overarching category (restaurant/café) with eight companies, indicating room for further development and diversification.

Sales Development

Sales in the restaurant industry in Våler have been marked by significant fluctuations. The current year (2025) shows stabilization with sales of 1.4 million Norwegian kroner, following a sharp decline to zero in 2021. The most significant increase was recorded in 2017, when sales rose by 460.6% compared to 2016. In 2024, a strong growth of 162.2% was recorded, indicating a recovery after the pandemic.

Employee Numbers

Employee numbers in the industry have been highly unstable. There were zero employees registered in 2020–2022, but there has been a clear recovery since 2023, with six employees in 2024 and nine employees in 2025. This shows that the industry has begun to stabilize after a period of serious challenges.

Registered Companies

There are four companies registered in the restaurant industry in Våler:

1. Masalabox As Avd Våler – Address: Vålgutua 226-228, Våler I Solør. Legal Form: AS. Number of employees: 4.
2. Kina'n Restaurant As – Address: Sundvegen 9, Våler I Solør. Legal Form: AS. Number of employees: 2.
3. Tuasungnoen S Foodtruck – Address: Nyvegen 13, Braskereidfoss. Legal Form: ENK. Number of employees: 0.
4. Tuasungnoen S Foodtruck – Address: Nyvegen 13, Braskereidfoss. Legal Form: ENK. Number of employees: 0.

Legal Forms

Of the four companies, two are AS and two are ENK. The AS companies have a total of six employees, while the ENK companies have no employees. This shows that there is a mix of legal forms, with a focus on small, single-person companies.

Distribution by Location

There is one registered activity in Våler I Solør, with two companies and six employees. The other companies are registered in Braskereidfoss, but no details about activities in other parts of the municipality are provided. This suggests that Våler I Solør is the main center for the restaurant industry in the municipality.

There are no registered bankruptcies in the restaurant industry in Våler over the past few years. Nevertheless, the industry has been marked by significant fluctuations in both sales and employee numbers. The most severe decline was recorded in 2020–2021, when sales and employee numbers fell to zero. There has been a clear recovery since 2023, showing that the industry has begun to stabilize.

Outlook for New Company Founding

The restaurant industry in Våler shows signs of recovery after a period of serious challenges. With an increase in sales and employee numbers since 2023, as well as stabilization in 2025, there may be opportunities for new companies in the industry. However, it is important to be aware of the previous fluctuations and ensure that new companies are robust enough to handle future challenges.

Comparison with the Overarching Grouping (Restaurant/Café)

The overarching grouping (restaurant/café) in Våler has eight companies, showing that there is room for further development and diversification in the industry. Sales in this grouping have been somewhat higher than in the restaurant industry, with 1.9 million Norwegian kroner in 2025 compared to 1.4 million Norwegian kroner in the restaurant industry. There is also a slightly higher number of employees in the overarching grouping (10 employees in 2025) compared to the restaurant industry (9 employees in 2025).

Peer Companies in the Overarching Grouping

Some of the key peer companies in the overarching grouping (restaurant/café) in Våler include:

• Dennis Kro Og Pizzeria V/ Dennis Långhavet – Address: Vålersenteret 1, 2436 Våler I Solør. Industry: café. Sales: NOK 0. EBITDA: NOK 0.
• Noah Invest As – Address: Gravbergsgården 20, 2438 Gravberget. Industry: Asian restaurant. Sales: NOK 2.1M. EBITDA: NOK -171.0K. Number of employees: 4.

These companies show that there is a mix of both cafés and specialized restaurants in the overarching grouping, which can provide inspiration for new companies in the restaurant industry.

The restaurant industry in Våler has shown both challenges and opportunities over the past few years. With a recovery in sales and employee numbers since 2023, as well as stabilization in 2025, there may be opportunities for new companies in the industry. However, it is important to be aware of the previous fluctuations and ensure that new companies are robust enough to handle future challenges. SmartGrunder can help founders explore potential addresses in the municipality for this industry, with a focus on natural conditions and development trends.