Municipality
Stad Business Economy: Insights for Founders and Decision-Makers
An in-depth economic analysis of Stad municipality, covering revenue trends, key employment centers, industry mix, and commercial opportunities.
Executive Summary
Stad municipality, located in Vestland county, presents a resilient regional economy anchored by healthcare services, public administration, electrical installation, specialized manufacturing, and agriculture. Serving as an essential economic hub in the Nordfjord region, Stad combines stable public sector enterprise with export-oriented private industries.
Key highlights from local economic data include:
- Substantial Commercial Turnover: Total business revenues reached NOK 6,080.8 million in 2024 before recalibrating to NOK 5,055.4 million in 2025.
- Stable Labor Force: Local employment remains steady at around 5,400 to 5,600 employees, standing at 5,436 expected in 2026.
- Commercial Hubs: Nordfjordeid dominates commercial volume with over NOK 3.2 billion in sales, complemented by Selje (NOK 1.2 billion) and Stadlandet (NOK 725.8 million).
- High-Value Technical & Manufacturing Industries: Strong commercial presence in electrical installations, plastic piping systems, and timber product manufacturing.
For entrepreneurs and prospective business leaders, Stad provides a well-balanced market with strong local industrial capabilities and institutional stability.
Economic Overview
The business economy in Stad has expanded significantly over the past decade, growing from NOK 4,786.5 million in sales in 2016 to a peak of NOK 6,080.8 million in 2024. Despite macroeconomic fluctuations, overall turnover has maintained an elevated baseline compared to historical levels.
Employment figures have shown consistent stability following pandemic-era adjustments, recovering from 5,245 employees in 2020 to peak at 5,626 in 2023, before leveling out around 5,436 employees by 2026.
Historical Revenue & Employment Trends
| Year | Sales Revenue (NOK) | YoY Sales Change | Total Employees | YoY Employee Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4,786.5M | — | 5,850 | — |
| 2017 | 4,473.1M | -6.5% | 6,200 | +6.0% |
| 2018 | 4,656.4M | +4.1% | 6,076 | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 4,628.9M | -0.6% | 5,651 | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 4,798.5M | +3.7% | 5,245 | -7.2% |
| 2021 | 5,208.2M | +8.5% | 5,382 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 5,723.0M | +9.9% | 5,515 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | 5,538.3M | -3.2% | 5,626 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 6,080.8M | +9.8% | 5,453 | -3.1% |
| 2025 | 5,055.4M | -16.9% | 5,420 | -0.6% |
| 2026 | — | — | 5,436 | +0.3% |
Industry Structure & Legal Forms
Stad's commercial structure spans municipal healthcare services, specialized technical contracting, and industrial production.
Key Industry Segments
- Electrical Installation: 6 companies employ 209 people, generating NOK 505.9M in operating income with an EBITDA margin of 14% (NOK 71.8M EBITDA).
- General Hospitals & Mental Health: Facilities under Helse Førde HF represent major regional healthcare hubs, generating combined operating revenues above NOK 416M and employing over 325 personnel.
- Plastic Manufacturing: Plastic plates, tubes, and profiles manufacturing (represented by Simona Stadpipe AS) logged NOK 196.6M in operating income with a 62% revenue growth rate and a 12% EBITDA margin.
- Wooden Prefabricated Buildings: Generates NOK 216.8M across 101 employees.
- Supermarkets & Retail: Supermarket and grocery store operations account for over NOK 390M in combined sales across 14 entities.
- Agriculture & Agricultural Support: Agricultural services feature heavily, led by regional cooperatives like Landbrukstenester Nordfjord SA.
Corporate Structure Mix
Private limited companies (AS) generate the overwhelming majority of market revenues (NOK 5,287.0M across 261 registered entities with 2,572 employees), while municipal enterprises (KOMM) and health trusts (SÆR) form the foundation of employment and public infrastructure.
Business Geography
Economic activity in Stad is geographically clustered around several key population centers, each exhibiting distinct industrial profiles.
Geographic Activity Breakdown
| Location | Registered Companies | Total Employees | Operating Income (NOK) | Sales Revenue (NOK) | Operating Profit (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nordfjordeid | 245 | 4,146 | 3,452.8M | 3,278.0M | 218.5M |
| Selje | 33 | 510 | 1,209.3M | 1,202.6M | 78.5M |
| Stadlandet | 50 | 428 | 744.9M | 725.8M | 43.4M |
| Kjølsdalen | 10 | 119 | 307.0M | 286.2M | 13.5M |
| Stårheim | 16 | 151 | 162.5M | 159.7M | 5.5M |
| Flatraket | 10 | 94 | 138.5M | 132.2M | 9.8M |
| Bryggja | 16 | 124 | 57.6M | 44.4M | 3.2M |
| Holmøyane | 1 | 5 | 9.7M | 9.7M | 552.0K |
| Lote | 4 | 12 | 641.0K | 506.0K | 137.0K |
| Barmen | 1 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Nordfjordeid acts as the primary administrative and economic heart of the municipality, hosting over 75% of total local employment. Selje and Stadlandet serve as robust coastal hubs with strong maritime, industrial, and maritime supply connections, while Kjølsdalen recorded notable growth (+67% revenue growth).
Largest Employers
Stad's largest employers consist of public healthcare bodies, municipal services, agricultural cooperatives, and key private engineering and manufacturing firms.
Top Local Employers
- Landbrukstenester Nordfjord SA Avd Nordfjordeid: 300 employees (Agriculture support cooperative; NOK 20.6M revenue).
- Helse Førde HF Nordfjord Sjukehus: 213 employees (General hospital services; NOK 283.7M revenue).
- Stad Kommune Hogatunet Bu Og Behandlingssenter: 192 employees (Residential nursing care).
- Stad Kommune Heimetenesta Nordfjordeid: 144 employees (Home care services).
- Stad Kommune Seljetunet Omsorg Og Rehabilitering: 133 employees (Rehabilitation & nursing care).
- Helse Førde HF Nordfjord Psykiatrisenter: 112 employees (Adult psychiatric hospital services; NOK 133.2M revenue).
- Norgesvinduet Bjørlo AS: 90 employees (Prefabricated timber & window production; NOK 193.2M revenue).
- Eid Elektro AS Avd Eid: 88 employees (Electrical installation; NOK 225.9M revenue, NOK 33.8M operating profit).
- Normatic AS: 76 employees (Automation & electrical installation; NOK 190.2M revenue, NOK 25.4M operating profit).
- Simona Stadpipe AS: 73 employees (Plastic pipe manufacturing; NOK 196.6M revenue, NOK 23.8M operating profit).
Business Dynamism & Market Adjustments
Market conditions in Stad reflect a mature corporate environment with low total bankruptcy counts, demonstrating overall enterprise resilience.
Data registered for corporate insolvencies in the municipality highlights isolated occurrences limited primarily to specialized sub-sectors subject to broader national construction and real estate headwinds:
- Site Preparation: 1 recorded insolvency (Naustdal Maskin AS located in Nordfjordeid, operating income NOK 8.9M, EBITDA NOK -2.7M).
- Real Estate / Property Management: 1 recorded insolvency (Nordvest Trelast AS located in Flatraket, operating income NOK 18.3M, EBITDA NOK -4.8M).
Overall, insolvency rates remain very low relative to the broader population of over 2,400 registered entities in Stad, signaling low market volatility.
Opportunities for Founders
The structural composition of Stad highlights several attractive avenues for prospective founders and investors:
- Industrial & Maritime Supply Services: With major industrial actors like Simona Stadpipe AS and Eid Elektro AS expanding, sub-contracting, engineering, and maintenance services are in demand.
- Green Construction & Technical Contracting: Although construction has seen national headwinds, Stad's strong electrical and technical baseline offers opportunities in energy retrofitting and smart building technology.
- Hospitality & Local Services: A stable local workforce and regional healthcare hub status support demand for specialized food services, retail concepts, and professional business support services.
- Agtech & Farming Logistics: Supported by major organizations like Landbrukstenester Nordfjord SA, innovations in sustainable farming and logistics find a fertile testing ground.
Founders evaluating specific locations or industry statistics within Stad municipality can utilize SmartGrunder's analytical tools to explore business addresses, market saturation, and industry opportunities.
Conclusion
Stad municipality possesses a highly grounded economic base, combining public health regional anchors with competitive private enterprise in manufacturing, technology, and trade. With strong commercial anchors in Nordfjordeid, Selje, and Stadlandet, the municipality presents a favorable backdrop for enterprise expansion and new venture creation.