Sushi Restaurant in Kragerø: Current Situation and Outlook

Sushi restaurant in Kragerø: Current situation and outlook

Kragerø has three registered sushi restaurants in the municipality, with a mix of organizational forms and varying economic development. The industry has experienced both strong growth and challenges, especially in 2023, where sales increased dramatically. At the same time, data shows that the number of employees has increased significantly in recent years, from 8 in 2022 to 20 in 2024. This indicates growing demand for sushi in the region, but also potential challenges related to stabilizing operating results.

Sales and employees in the sushi restaurant industry in Kragerø:

• Sales: In 2023, the industry achieved a sales surge of NOK 8.0 million, an increase of 241.9% compared to 2022. This was followed by a sharp decline of 71.1% in 2024, but a mild recovery of 2.0% in 2025.
• Employees: The number of employees has grown from 8 in 2022 to 20 in 2024, with an increase of 100% from 2022 to 2023 and 25% from 2023 to 2024. In 2025, a decline of 60% was recorded.

Average key figures:

• EBITDA margin: 20% (2023), but 0% in 2024 and 2025.
• Average sales per employee: NOK 500,000 in 2023, but NOK 115,000 in 2024.

Critical observation: The extreme growth in 2023 was not followed by corresponding operating results, which may indicate over-optimization or uncertain market conditions.

The following companies are registered in the sushi restaurant industry in Kragerø:

Organizational form statistics:

• Sole proprietorship (ENK): 1 company, 13 employees, 0 sales, 0 EBITDA.
• Limited company (AS): 2 companies, 3 employees, 2.4M sales, 489.0K EBITDA.

Observation: Nye Admiralen As is the only company with positive operations, while the other two companies show either zero or negative economics.

All three companies in the sushi restaurant industry in Kragerø are registered in Kragerø. There is no sub-registration of activity in other city districts or municipalities. This indicates that the industry is concentrated in the city center and near tourist areas in the municipality.

Bankruptcies and operational challenges:

• None of the companies in the industry are bankrupt in 2025, but two of them have negative operating results:
• Kragerø Sushi As has a negative EBITDA of -4.0K and zero sales.
• Kragerø Sushi Loan Nguyen has zero sales and EBITDA.

Operational stability:

• Nye Admiralen As is the only company with positive operations, with an EBITDA of 489.0K and an EBITDA margin of 20%.

Conclusion: The industry is fragmented, with one company having good operations and two companies facing serious economic challenges.

Outlook for entrepreneurs

Opportunities:

• Strong growth in 2023: A sales surge of 241.9% shows potential market space for sushi in Kragerø.
• Increasing demand: The number of employees has increased significantly, from 8 in 2022 to 20 in 2024.

Challenges:

• Unstable operations: The EBITDA margin fell from 20% in 2023 to 0% in 2024.
• Competitiveness: Only one company (Nye Admiralen As) has positive operations, while the other two have serious economic challenges.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should consider focusing on operational economics and marketing to ensure stabilization of operations, especially in an industry with significant variation in economic results.

Outlook for the restaurant and café industry in Kragerø

Broader industry (restaurant/café) compared to sushi restaurant:

• Number of companies: 39 companies in the restaurant/café industry, compared to 3 in sushi restaurants.
• Sales: The restaurant industry had NOK 73.9 million in 2025, compared to NOK 2.4 million for sushi restaurants.
• Employees: 256 employees in the restaurant industry, compared to 20 employees in sushi restaurants.

Peer companies in the restaurant industry:

• As El Paso (café): NOK 15.1M sales, NOK 920.0K EBITDA, 43 employees.
• Tasty Kragerø As (restaurant): NOK 4.7M sales, NOK 491.0K EBITDA, 18 employees.
• Bessesen As (café): NOK 5.6M sales, NOK 195.0K EBITDA, 22 employees.

Conclusion: The restaurant industry in Kragerø is more stable and voluminous, with higher sales and more companies. Sushi restaurants are a smaller, more specialized part of this broader industry.

The sushi restaurant industry in Kragerø shows both opportunities and challenges. With strong growth in 2023 and increasing demand, it could be a promising field for entrepreneurs. However, operational economics are uncertain, with only one company having positive operations. At the same time, data shows that the restaurant industry in Kragerø is more stable and voluminous, which could be an important reference for entrepreneurs. SmartGrunder can help find suitable locations and assess operational economic opportunities in the municipality.