Shoe Industry in Bergen: Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

Bergen has an established and varied shoe industry with 51 registered companies in 2026. The sector has been marked by fluctuations in sales and employees over the years, with a significant decline in 2025. However, data shows that some companies achieve high EBITDA margins (up to 7%) and stable growth in certain areas. The broader creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector in Bergen, however, has shown a sharp decline in 2026, which may affect future development for the shoe industry.

Sales and Employee Development

The shoe industry in Bergen experienced a sharp decline in sales of 33.8% from 2024 to 2025, while the number of employees had a weak increase of 5.9% during the same period. The most significant increase in sales was recorded in 2018 (+63.2% from 2017), but this was followed by a decline of 14.6% in 2019. Employee numbers have generally declined over the years, with stabilization from 2023 and a weak increase in 2025.

Key Companies in the Sector

The 16 registered companies in Bergen include both established businesses and newer players. The most representative company forms are AS (43 companies). Examples of large companies include:

• Kl Moberg Skotøyforretning As (3 branches, total 60 employees, EBITDA 4.9M NOK)
• Danielsen Sko As (multiple branches, total 67 employees, EBITDA 4.3M NOK)
• Oscar Lillebøe Engros As (16 employees, EBITDA 733.4K NOK)

Most companies report high EBITDA margins (7%), but some show negative values, such as Skechers Retail Lagunen (0 NOK in all categories).

Distribution of Activity in Bergen

Bergen is the most active area with 18 companies and 144 employees. Rådal follows with 8 companies and 90 employees, while Nyborg and Ulset have fewer but higher EBITDA margins. Loddefjord shows a negative development with -6% sales growth in 2025.

Dynamics and Stability

The sector has been marked by variations in profitability and operating results. Examples of companies with negative values include:

• Skechers Retail Lagunen (0 NOK in all categories)
• Solrik As Avd Bergen Storsenter (0 NOK in all categories)
• Danielsen Sko As Avd Ecco Shop Lagunen (0 NOK in all categories)

However, most companies show stable operating results, with EBITDA margins of 5–7%. There are no official bankruptcy reports in the data, but some companies have lower EBITDA than the average.

The shoe industry in Bergen shows both opportunities and challenges. Companies that achieve high EBITDA margins (7%) and stable growth (e.g., Kl Moberg Skotøyforretning As) can be good models for new players. However, it is important to be aware of the strong fluctuations in sales, especially in 2025. Areas such as Bergen and Rådal with high activity and stable companies can be good choices for entrepreneurs. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess operational prospects.

Comparison with the Broader Sector

The broader creative, arts, and entertainment activities sector in Bergen has 621 companies, showing that the shoe industry is a smaller part of this sector. Compared to this sector, the shoe industry in Bergen has:

• Lower sales: 199.1M NOK (2025) vs. 1631.6M NOK for the creative sector
• Fewer employees: 322 vs. 2443
• Greater fluctuations: The shoe industry had a decline of 33.8% from 2024 to 2025, while the creative sector had a decline of 34.7% during the same period

Peer companies in the creative sector include major players such as H&M (128.9M NOK sales) and Inditex Norge As (47.2M NOK sales), but also companies with 0 NOK sales, such as Markeveien 10 As.

The shoe industry in Bergen shows a mix of stable and varied companies. With 51 companies and 322 employees in 2026, it is an established sector, but it has been marked by fluctuations in sales and operating results. Areas such as Bergen and Rådal have high activity, while some companies show negative values. Entrepreneurs should consider locations with high activity and stable companies, and SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and assess operational prospects.