The Sushi Restaurant Industry in Haugesund: Key Figures, Company Structure, and Development Opportunities

The sushi restaurant industry in Haugesund constitutes a small but dynamic part of the municipality's food and service sector. In 2026, there are 11 companies registered in the industry, with a total of 102 employees and combined sales of approximately NOK 34.3 million. The industry has shown both strength and uncertainty over time, with an EBITDA margin of 5% and annual sales growth of 0.3% in 2025. This analysis highlights company structure, geographic distribution, economic trends, and development opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Economic Trends

Sales and Employees:

• Sales: Sales reached a peak in 2021 at NOK 35.0 million, but declined to NOK 28.9 million in 2025. There was an annual decline of 23.4% between 2021 and 2022, followed by a gradual increase in subsequent years.
• Employees: The number of employees has increased significantly, from 73 in 2024 to 102 in 2026. The most significant increase (72%) occurred between 2022 and 2023.

Profitability and Efficiency:

• The EBITDA margin stands at 5%, indicating a moderate level of economic efficiency.
• The average salary per employee is NOK 1.54 million, which is higher than many other small and medium-sized businesses in Rogaland.

Costs and Debt:

• Total debt for the industry is NOK 6.4 million, with an average debt per company of approximately NOK 586,000.

Company Structure and Organizational Forms

In Haugesund, the 11 companies in the sushi restaurant industry are distributed across the following organizational forms:

• AS (Public Limited Company): 8 companies (73% of the total), with 103 employees and combined sales of NOK 34.4 million.
• ENK (Sole Proprietorship): 1 company (9% of the total), with 1 employee and no sales.

Key Companies:

• Bento Sushi As (Strandgata 150): 17 employees, NOK 13.4 million in sales, EBITDA of NOK 105,000.
• Sushi Haugesund As (Kirkegata 138): 15 employees, NOK 11.7 million in sales, EBITDA of NOK 603,000.
• T H Sushi As (Haraldsgata 80): 11 employees, NOK 4.7 million in sales, EBITDA of NOK 744,000 (highest in the industry).

Development Situation:

• 3 companies (Sabrura Amanda As, Moholt Sushi As, Byåsen Sushi As) have no sales or income, which may indicate newly established or non-operational businesses.

Geographic Distribution

All 11 companies in the sushi restaurant industry in Haugesund are registered in Haugesund. The distribution by address shows the following key locations:

• Strandgata 150: Bento Sushi As (17 employees)
• Kirkegata 138: Sushi Haugesund As (15 employees)
• Haraldsgata 80: T H Sushi As (11 employees)
• Haraldsgata 90: Sashimi Sushi Tran (1 employee)

Municipal Trends:

• Sushi restaurants are concentrated in central parts of Haugesund, particularly in areas with high population density and tourist activity.
• There are no companies registered in areas outside Haugesund, indicating a local focus.

Bankruptcies:

• There are no registered bankruptcies in the sushi restaurant industry in Haugesund between 2016–2026, indicating relatively stable operations.

Operational Risk:

• 3 companies (Sabrura Amanda As, Moholt Sushi As, Byåsen Sushi As) have no sales or income, which may indicate newly established or non-operational businesses.
• Sushi Bar Otta As has a negative EBITDA of NOK -1,000, which may indicate economic challenges.

Operational Efficiency:

• The most operationally efficient companies have an EBITDA margin of over 15% (T H Sushi As) and an average salary per employee of over NOK 700,000.

Market Development:

• The sushi restaurant industry in Haugesund has shown growth in the number of employees (from 73 in 2024 to 102 in 2026), but the sales peak was reached in 2021 (NOK 35.0 million) before a decline.
• The EBITDA margin of 5% indicates a moderate level of economic efficiency, which may be a challenge for new companies.

Competitiveness:

• With 11 companies in the industry and an average sales per company of approximately NOK 3.1 million, competition is relatively high.
• Entrepreneurs should consider differentiating themselves through unique offerings, quality, or local connections.

Local Opportunities:

• Sushi restaurants are concentrated in central parts of Haugesund, which can be an advantage for new companies seeking to leverage existing tourist and population flows.

Size and Development:

• Restaurant/Café Industry in Haugesund has 117 companies (compared to 11 in the sushi restaurant industry), with combined sales of NOK 256.9 million in 2025 and 1,288 employees.
• Sushi Restaurant Industry accounts for approximately 11% of the restaurant/café industry in Haugesund, but has lower sales per company (NOK 3.1 million vs. NOK 2.2 million in restaurant/café).

Key Peer Companies:

• Egon Haugesund As (restaurant): NOK 5.6 million in EBITDA, 37 employees, NOK 37.0 million in sales.
• Mm Haugesund As (restaurant): NOK 2.2 million in EBITDA, 38 employees, NOK 21.3 million in sales.
• Sirin Food As (restaurant): NOK 2.1 million in EBITDA, 4 employees, NOK 3.0 million in sales.

Competitiveness:

• The sushi restaurant industry has a lower EBITDA margin (5%) compared to the restaurant/café industry (average 6.7% in 2025), which may be a challenge for new companies.

The sushi restaurant industry in Haugesund shows both potential and challenges. With growth in the number of employees and relatively stable operations, the industry can be an attractive choice for entrepreneurs. However, competition is high, and the EBITDA margin of 5% indicates a moderate level of economic efficiency. Entrepreneurs should consider differentiating themselves through unique offerings, quality, or local connections, and leverage existing tourist and population flows in central parts of Haugesund. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and assess operational opportunities in the municipality.