Sushi Restaurants in Larvik: Industry Analysis and Outlook

The sushi restaurant industry in Larvik is a small but dynamic sector with 8 registered companies. The industry has been marked by large variations in sales and number of employees over time, with a recent bankruptcy highlighting the challenges. Stavern shows a positive example with higher sales and better operating margins, while Larvik has seen more companies with negative results. For entrepreneurs, this may indicate a need for strategic positioning and financial stability to succeed in this industry.

Sales and employee development:

• Sales: The industry reached a peak of NOK 7.9 million in 2020, but fell to NOK 361,000 in 2023 (a decline of 95.5%). There has been a sharp decline since 2020, with a particularly dramatic fall in 2022–2023 (87.8%).
• Employees: The number of employees has varied between 4 and 17 over time, with an average level of around 13–15 employees. There was an increase from 2020 to 2021 (+41.7%), but a decline in 2022–2023 (-20.0%).

Causes of variation: The large decline in sales may be due to the bankruptcy of T & T Sakura Sushi As in 2023, as well as declining operating margins at several companies. Stavern's company (Stavern Sushi As) has, however, shown strong growth (100% increase in sales from 2022 to 2023) and positive operating margins (24%).

There are 8 companies in the sushi restaurant industry in Larvik, with the following details:

Legal Forms: There is 1 ENK company and 2 AS companies registered. The ENK company (Sushi Wok Thi) has 10 employees, while the AS companies have a lower number of employees (average 3–4).

The industry is distributed across two locations in Larvik:

1. Larvik: 2 companies, 13 employees, total sales of NOK 70,000, operating profit of NOK -36,000 and EBITDA margin of -51%.
2. Stavern: 1 company, 4 employees, total sales of NOK 3.8 million, operating profit of NOK 919,000 and EBITDA margin of 24%.

Contrast: Stavern's company has a strong financial position with high sales growth (100%) and positive operating margins, while Larvik's companies have lower sales and negative results. This suggests that location in Stavern could be an advantage for new companies.

Bankruptcy and operational challenges:

• T & T Sakura Sushi As (Storgata 48, Larvik) went bankrupt in 2023 with sales of NOK 1.6 million, but with negative EBITDA of NOK -190,000 and 0 employees. This shows a declining business model.
• Operating Margins: Most companies have negative or weak operating margins (e.g., -51% for Larvik's companies, compared to 24% for Stavern's company).

Conclusion: The industry is marked by unstable operating results, and there is a need for financial planning and effective cost management to avoid bankruptcy.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

Critical factors:

• Bankruptcy risk: The bankruptcy of T & T Sakura Sushi As shows that the industry can be risky without solid financial planning.
• Competitiveness: Stavern's company (Stavern Sushi As) has shown that it is possible to achieve high sales and positive operating margins with the right strategy.
• Location: Stavern's economic strength and higher sales suggest that this could be an advantage for new companies.

Recommendation: Entrepreneurs should consider locating their company in Stavern, focus on cost control and differentiation to avoid bankruptcy, and carefully analyze competitors.

Outlook for the broader industry (restaurant/café)

Larger industry: The restaurant and café industry in Larvik has 97 companies, compared to 8 companies in the sushi restaurant industry. This shows that sushi is a small subgroup within a larger, more stable industry.

Economic comparison:

• Sales: The restaurant industry had NOK 236.8 million in 2025, compared to NOK 361,000 for the sushi restaurant industry (a decline of 99.8%).
• Employees: The restaurant industry had 745 employees in 2026, compared to 15 employees in the sushi restaurant industry (a decline of 97.9%).

Peer companies: Examples of successful companies in the restaurant industry include Skipperstua Restaurant As (NOK 19.0M sales, NOK 3.2M EBITDA) and Bøkekroa As (NOK 22.3M sales, NOK 2.1M EBITDA). These companies have higher sales and better operating margins than most sushi restaurants in Larvik.

The sushi restaurant industry in Larvik is a small but dynamic sector with both challenges and opportunities. Stavern shows that it is possible to achieve high sales growth and positive operating margins with the right strategy, while Larvik's companies have been marked by negative results and bankruptcy. Entrepreneurs should consider locating their company in Stavern, focus on cost control and differentiation, and carefully analyze competitors. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and strategies to succeed in this industry.