The Sushi Restaurant Industry in Lillehammer: Current Status and Outlook

The sushi restaurant industry in Lillehammer is a small but dynamic sector with 5 registered companies in the municipality. In recent years, the industry has shown both strength and challenges, with a significant increase in sales in 2019 (12.4 million NOK) followed by weaker development in recent years. The workforce has increased sharply from 2022 to 2023 (from 22 to 40 employees), but has since stabilized. The industry has no bankruptcy registrations, but several companies report zero sales, which may indicate challenges in operations or recent startups.

Economic Trends

• Sales: The industry experienced a significant increase in sales from 2018 to 2019 (+327.3%), but has since experienced a decline of 5.5% from 2024 to 2025. The highest sales reached 14.2 million NOK in 2021.
• Workforce: The workforce has grown sharply from 2022 to 2023 (+81.8%), but has since decreased slightly in 2024. In 2025, there are 36 employees in the industry.
• EBITDA Margin: The only company group with positive figures (Japan Sushi As) has an EBITDA margin of 25%, indicating good operational efficiency.
• Debt and Equity: Japan Sushi As has equity of 7.1 million NOK and debt of 3.8 million NOK, indicating stable financing.

Registered Companies

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

Organizational Forms: All companies are registered as AS (Limited Company). There are no companies with other organizational forms in the industry.

Bankruptcy Status: None of the companies in the industry are registered as bankrupt.

Geographic Distribution

All companies in the sushi restaurant industry in Lillehammer are registered in the municipality's main city area. There is no activity in sub-municipalities or specific geographic areas within the municipality.

Details: 4 companies and 51 employees are registered in Lillehammer city center, with an operational income of 12.6 million NOK and sales of 12.5 million NOK.

Operational Dynamics and Risks

• Bankruptcy: No companies in the industry are registered as bankrupt, indicating stable operations.
• Zero Sales: Four of the five companies report zero sales, which may indicate operational challenges or recent startups. This could be a signal that market share and customer loyalty are critical factors for success.
• Operating Results: Only one company (Japan Sushi As) reports positive operating results, showing that operational efficiency is a key factor for survival in the industry.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a sushi restaurant in Lillehammer, the following points are important to note:

• Market Share: The industry is small, but competition is strong. There are 5 companies in the municipality, which can make it difficult to gain market share.
• Operating Results: Only one company has positive operating results, showing that operational efficiency and cost control are crucial.
• Bankruptcy Risk: No bankruptcy registrations, but several companies with zero sales indicate that there may be challenges in achieving profitability.
• Trend: Sales had a significant increase in 2019, but have since declined. This may indicate that the market is vulnerable to external factors such as economic downturns or changes in customer preferences.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable locations and evaluate business models that can provide advantages in this industry.

Comparison with Broader Sector

• Number of Companies: The broader sector (restaurant/café) has 64 companies in Lillehammer, while the sushi restaurant industry has only 5 companies. This shows that sushi is a niche market within the restaurant sector.
• Sales: The broader sector had total sales of 269.4 million NOK in 2025, while the sushi restaurant industry had 12.4 million NOK. This shows that sushi is a small part of the total restaurant sector.
• EBITDA: The most profitable companies in the broader sector have EBITDA up to 5.3 million NOK (Heim Lillehammer As), while the sushi restaurant industry has a maximum of 3.2 million NOK (Japan Sushi As).
• Workforce: The broader sector had 773 employees in 2025, while the sushi restaurant industry had 36 employees. This shows that sushi is a less labor-intensive sector.

Peer Companies: Examples of companies in the broader sector with high EBITDA include Heim Lillehammer As (5.3M), Egon Lillehammer As (4.4M), and Paa Bordet As (4.4M). These companies have higher sales and EBITDA than the sushi restaurant industry, showing that sushi is a niche market within the restaurant sector.

The sushi restaurant industry in Lillehammer is a small but dynamic sector with growth potential. With 5 companies and 36 employees in 2025, the industry is in a stable phase, although there are challenges in the form of zero sales from several companies. Economic data show that the industry had a significant increase in sales in 2019, but has since experienced a decline. For entrepreneurs, it is important to focus on operational efficiency, market share, and customer loyalty to achieve success. Compared to the broader sector (restaurant/café), sushi is a niche market, but has growth potential if business models and market strategies are well planned.