The Sushi Restaurant Industry in Midt Telemark: Current Status and Outlook

Current Status and Key Trends

The sushi restaurant industry in Midt Telemark is represented by one active company, Dattebayo AS, operating in Bø I Telemark. The industry shows clear growth in sales and employees since 2020, with annual sales growth exceeding 25% and employee numbers stabilizing at approximately 15–18 people. Although the EBITDA margin is negative (-1%), data indicates a high gross profit (70%) and strong sales growth.

Development Trends

The industry has experienced uneven development over the years, with a significant drop in employees in 2021 (from 14 to 10 people), but a strong rebound in 2022 (to 14 people). Sales have grown continuously since 2020, with a particularly strong increase of 25.8% in 2025. This suggests gradual stabilization and growth in the market, even though EBITDA remains negative.

Sales and Employee Development

Sales:

Employees:

Economic Indicators

• Gross Profit: 70% (2025)
• EBITDA Margin: -1% (2025)
• Sales Growth: 25.8% in 2025
• Total Debt: 1.5M NOK (Dattebayo AS)
• Equity: 200,000 NOK (Dattebayo AS)

Active Companies in the Industry

Legal Form Statistics

• AS: 1 company, 17 employees, 12.5M NOK in operating income, -248,000 NOK in operating profit, -152,000 NOK in EBITDA.
• Other Forms: No registered companies in the industry.

Geographic Distribution of Activity

Bø I Telemark:

• Number of Companies: 1
• Number of Employees: 17
• Operating Income: 12.5M NOK
• Sales: 12.5M NOK
• Wage Costs: 5.4M NOK
• Operating Profit: -248,000 NOK
• EBITDA: -152,000 NOK
• Gross Profit: 8.7M NOK
• Total Equity: 200,000 NOK
• Total Debt: 1.5M NOK
• Sales Growth: 25%
• EBITDA Margin: -1%
• Gross Profit Margin: 70%
• Operating Profit per Employee: 808,600 NOK
• EBITDA per Employee: -9,800 NOK
• Operating Profit Margin: -1%

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcy Statistics

Bankruptcy Statistics:

• Number of Bankrupt Companies: 0 (industry is stable)
• Bankruptcy Rate: 0%

Operational Efficiency:

• EBITDA Margin: -1% (2025), indicating that the industry still faces challenges in generating profit.
• Operating Profit: -248,000 NOK (2025), but with a high gross profit of 70%.
• Sales Growth: 25.8% in 2025, suggesting positive market development.

Bankruptcy Risk:

• No companies in the industry have gone bankrupt, but the negative EBITDA margin indicates that the operating profit remains unfavorable.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The sushi restaurant industry in Midt Telemark shows growth potential, especially with annual sales growth exceeding 25% since 2020. However, it is important to note that the EBITDA margin remains negative (-1%), which could be a challenge for new entrepreneurs.

Opportunities:

• Increasing sales and stabilization of employee numbers.
• A high gross profit (70%) that can provide room for development.
• A unique market position in Midt Telemark with one active company.

Challenges:

• Negative EBITDA margin that could affect operational efficiency.
• Bankruptcy risk is low, but the operating profit remains unfavorable.
• Competing companies in the broader restaurant/café sector could influence the market.

Comparison with the Broader Sector

Restaurant/Café Sector in Midt Telemark:

• Number of Companies: 28 (the industry is much larger than sushi restaurants)
• Sales: 50.1M NOK in 2025 (vs. 12.3M NOK for sushi restaurants)
• Employees: 235 in 2026 (vs. 16 in sushi restaurants)
• EBITDA Margin: Variable, with some companies having positive EBITDA and others negative.

Peer Companies in the Restaurant/Café Sector (Top 5 by EBITDA):

Conclusion:

• Sushi restaurants are a small part of the broader restaurant/café sector in Midt Telemark.
• The broader sector has higher sales and more companies, but sushi restaurants have higher sales growth.
• The EBITDA margin in sushi restaurants remains negative, while there is variation in the broader sector.

The sushi restaurant industry in Midt Telemark shows growth potential, with annual sales growth exceeding 25% since 2020. However, it is important to be aware of the negative EBITDA margin (-1%) and competing companies in the broader restaurant/café sector. With one active company in the industry, it is possible to find a unique market position, but operational efficiency and the EBITDA margin must be carefully considered.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs explore addresses in Midt Telemark for sushi restaurants where natural development is likely. We also offer analysis tools to assess market outlook and competitive strength.