The Restaurant Industry in Vennesla

The restaurant industry in Vennesla shows a mix of stability and dynamism. From 2016 to 2025, the number of employees in the sector increased by 228%, from 43 to 173, although there was a decline of 16.8% in 2026. Sales have shown a more gradual development, with a significant increase of 110.2% from 2019 to 2020, but also periods of decline such as in 2017 (-9.1%). There are 16 registered companies in the industry, with the dominant organizational form being AS (7 companies).

Sales Development:

Employee Development:

The industry has experienced a strong increase in sales and number of employees after 2020, but there is a decline in 2026 that should be followed up on. The EBITDA margin stands at 1% for the entire industry, which indicates weak profitability.

Vennesla has 16 registered companies in the restaurant industry, with the following organizational forms:

• AS: 7 companies (156 employees, 38.0M operating income)
• ENK: 4 companies (0 employees)
• KBO: 1 company (0 employees)
• DA: 1 company (0 employees)

Key Companies:

1. Fabriken As (62 employees, 25.5M sales, 821.0K EBITDA)
2. Rune Eriksen (0 employees, 7.9M sales, 471.0K EBITDA)
3. 18 Restaurant As (9 employees, 5.8M sales, 359.0K EBITDA)

The most stable companies are Fabriken As and Rune Eriksen, while several companies have 0 employees and 0 sales.

Vennesla (6 companies, 151 employees):

• Operating income: 38.0M
• Sales: 37.2M
• EBITDA: 513.0K
• Economic growth: 15%

Hægeland (1 company, 5 employees):

• Operating income: 0
• Sales: 0
• EBITDA: 0
• Economic growth: 0%

Vennesla is the dominant area for the restaurant industry, with a clear economic advantage compared to Hægeland.

Bankruptcies:

• No bankruptcies have been registered in the restaurant industry in Vennesla in 2026.

Stability:

• 7 of the 16 companies have positive EBITDA (Fabriken As, Rune Eriksen, 18 Restaurant As, etc.).
• 3 companies have negative EBITDA (Kasald As, Hjerterom Kaffe & Te As, etc.).

Development:

• The most stable companies have high operating income and a low number of employees.
• Several companies have 0 employees and 0 sales, which may indicate registration errors or closed companies.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The restaurant industry in Vennesla shows potential for growth, especially after 2020. With an increase in the number of employees and sales, as well as a stable EBITDA margin of 1%, it may be possible to establish oneself in the municipality. However, competitive companies such as Fabriken As and Rune Eriksen may pose challenges. Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on unique qualities or specializations to stand out in the market.

Parent category (restaurant / café) has 20 companies in Vennesla, which shows that the industry is more developed than the individual restaurant sector. Sales in the parent category have increased by 5.1% from 2024 to 2025, while the number of employees has increased by 14.5%. Peer companies in the parent category include:

The parent category has higher sales growth than the individual restaurant sector, which may indicate that cafes and takeaway companies have a stronger market position in Vennesla.

The restaurant industry in Vennesla shows a mix of stability and growth opportunities. With an increase in the number of employees and sales, as well as a stable EBITDA margin, it may be possible to establish oneself in the municipality. Entrepreneurs, however, should be aware of the competition from existing companies and consider focusing on unique qualities or specializations to stand out in the market. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Vennesla for the restaurant industry.