Sushi Restaurants in Trondheim: Key Figures, Businesses, and Outlooks

The sushi restaurant industry in Trondheim represents an exciting and dynamic part of the local food industry. With 18 registered companies in the municipality, including 12 in the central area, data shows a mix of established businesses and new initiatives. This sector has demonstrated both strength and challenges over time, with significant variations in sales and operating results. An important observation is that Trondheim has a relatively high concentration of sushi restaurants compared to other cities in Trøndelag, which can be both an advantage and a challenge for new players.

Economic Trends

Sales and Employee Development:

Sales have shown a very dynamic development, with a significant increase of 33.3% from 2024 to 2025. This is a marked improvement after a decline of 15.5% in 2024. The number of employees has shown a more stable development, increasing from 296 in 2023 to 334 in 2025. This development indicates a gradual improvement in the sector after a period of variations.

Key Figures for 2025:

• Sales: 149.9M NOK
• Number of Employees: 334
• EBITDA Margin: 8% (average for the sector)
• Operating Result: 4.2M NOK (for the most profitable businesses)

It is worth noting that there are large variations between individual businesses, with some achieving high EBITDA margins (e.g., Cowfish As with 15%) and others experiencing negative results (e.g., M Byhaven with -10% EBITDA margin).

Key Companies in the Industry

Trondheim has a mix of both older and newer sushi restaurants. Key companies include:

• Cowfish As (Verftsgata 2E): 67 employees, 50.9M NOK in operating income, 15% EBITDA margin
• Sushime (Beddingen 1): 32 employees, 27.9M NOK in operating income, 16% EBITDA margin
• Sabrura Solsiden As (Beddingen 5): 33 employees, 15.1M NOK in operating income, 4% EBITDA margin
• Sabrura Torget As (Munkegata 19): 33 employees, 24.6M NOK in operating income, -8% EBITDA margin

Organizational Forms:

• 15 of the 18 companies are ASs, indicating a dominance of limited liability companies in the sector.
• There are no registered bankruptcies among sushi restaurants in Trondheim, showing a relative stability in the sector.

Special Observations:

• Bevi21 As (Nedre Bakklandet 21A) and Sabrura Skovgård As (Jakobslivegen 1B) have no reported sales or operating results, which may indicate that they are in the start-up phase or have experienced challenges.
• M Byhaven As (Olav Tryggvasons gate 28) has a negative EBITDA margin of -10%, which may serve as a warning for new players.

It is clear that Trondheim is the dominant area for sushi restaurants, with 12 companies and 306 employees. Tiller has a single business with 20 employees and 19.4M NOK in sales, while Grimstad and Jakobsli have companies with no reported sales or operating results. This may indicate that these businesses are in the start-up phase or have experienced challenges.

Bankruptcies:

• There are no registered bankruptcies among sushi restaurants in Trondheim, indicating a relative stability in the sector.

Operating Results:

• The most profitable businesses have EBITDA margins up to 16% (e.g., Sushime and Cowfish As).
• Some businesses experience negative results, e.g., M Byhaven As with a -10% EBITDA margin and Sabrura Torget As with a -8% EBITDA margin.

Sales Growth:

• The most growth-oriented businesses have experienced growth of up to 174% (Cowfish As in 2024), indicating potential for growth in the sector.

Operating Result per Employee:

• The most efficient businesses have an operating result per employee of up to 1.1M NOK (Cowfish As), while others have lower figures (e.g., Sabrura Solsiden As with 509.9K NOK per employee).

Sushi restaurants in Trondheim show both opportunities and challenges for new players. The key observations are:

1. Growth Potential: Sales have increased by 33.3% from 2024 to 2025, indicating a gradual improvement in the sector.
2. Competitiveness: There are 18 companies in Trondheim, providing relatively high competitiveness. This can be a challenge for new players, but also an indication of an established market.
3. Operating Results: There are variations in operating results, with some businesses achieving high EBITDA margins (15-16%) and others experiencing negative results. This shows that it is possible to achieve good results with the right strategy.
4. Geographic Distribution: Trondheim is the dominant area, which can be an advantage for new players looking to establish themselves in a city with a high concentration of sushi restaurants.

For new players, it is important to carefully analyze competitors and find a differentiation. It may be advantageous to focus on specialized offerings or unique considerations that can stand out in a competitive market.

Comparison with Broader Sector

Broader industry grouping (restaurant/café):

• Number of Companies: 473 (sushi restaurants have 18 companies)
• Sales: 2338.8M NOK in 2025 (sushi restaurants have 149.9M NOK)
• Number of Employees: 4786 in 2025 (sushi restaurants have 334 employees)

Key Companies in Broader Sector:

Comparison:

• Sushi restaurants account for approximately 6.4% of sales in the broader sector (149.9M NOK vs. 2338.8M NOK in 2025).
• There is a significant difference in size between sushi restaurants and other restaurants/cafés in Trondheim.
• EBITDA margins for sushi restaurants (average 8%) are in line with those in the broader sector, but there are variations between individual businesses.

Conclusion: Sushi restaurants are a relatively small but important part of the broader sector. It is possible to achieve good results, but it is also a competitive market that requires clear differentiation.

Sushi restaurants in Trondheim show both opportunities and challenges for new players. With a sales growth of 33.3% from 2024 to 2025 and a relatively stable number of employees, it is clear that the sector has potential. However, it is important to be aware of the competition and variations in operating results. For new players, it may be advantageous to carefully analyze competitors and find a differentiation. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses in Trondheim for this industry, with a focus on natural development opportunities.