Grilstad

What Grilstad does

Grilstad is a Norwegian family-owned meat processing company founded in 1957 by Anton Jenssen in Ranheim near Trondheim, currently controlled by the Jenssen family (95%) and Reinkind AS (5%). The company operates 7 production facilities across Norway (Ranheim, Stranda, Brumunddal, Stavanger, Melhus, Levanger) and Sweden (Östersund), producing cured meats (spekepølser), salami, fresh meats, frozen hamburgers, ready meals (ferdigmat), and snack products. Iconic heritage brands include Jubelsalami (launched 1974, Norway's most eaten salami), Gullsalami (1961), Trønderfår (1962), and Strandaskinke (Norway's best-selling cured ham). Vertical integration is provided through the 90%-owned slaughterhouse subsidiary Midt-Norge Slakteri AS and a long-term cutting partnership with Prima Brands covering 250,000 pigs annually.

Grilstad generated consolidated revenue of NOK 2.7 billion in 2024 with EBITDA of NOK 186 million, supported by approximately 560–570 employees and an annual product volume of ~10,000 tonnes delivered to the Norwegian market. The go-to-market is primarily B2B2C through all major Norwegian grocery chains (Kiwi, Spar, Meny, Joker, Bunnpris) with dedicated exclusive retail partnerships (Fusion salami exclusively at KIWI; Familia exclusively at MENY), supplemented by a Foodservice division with ~10 sales employees supplying canteens, hotels, and restaurants, and a presence on Foodora's online delivery platform. Marketing relies on recipe content, athlete sponsorships (cross-country skier Emil Iversen), and influencer campaigns.

Recent strategic direction centers on three vectors: (1) category expansion into ready meals via the Matpartner (2020) and Holmens (2022) acquisitions and the Skrytgaranti ready meal brand; (2) supply chain consolidation through the 12-year Nortura slaughter partnership renewal (February 2025) and Prima Brands long-term cutting partnership; and (3) organizational restructuring effective August 2024 under new CEO Terje Sørnes, which spun out raw materials, cutting, fresh production, and Foodservice into a separate entity. All production facilities operate under GFSI-standard FSSC22000 food safety certification, and Grilstad participates in Norway's Salt Partnership and food waste reduction initiatives.

Name

Grilstad

Legal name

Grilstad AS

Website

http://www.grilstad.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Grilstad is a Norwegian family-owned meat producer founded in 1957, operating 7 production facilities across Norway and Sweden. It manufactures cured meats, salami, hamburgers, and ready meals, serving Norwegian grocery retailers and Foodservice through heritage brands like Jubelsalami and Gullsalami.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Meat Processing

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing (311991), Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing (311412), Meat and Meat Product Merchant Wholesalers (424470)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Fermented & Air-Dried Charcuterie (Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto-Style) (AFANAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Shelf-Stable/Retort Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (AFANAFAE), Special-Diet Prepared Meat & Seafood Meals (Low-Sodium, Keto, Gluten-Free) (AFANAFAL), Frozen Prepared Meals & Entrées Wholesale (AFAIAHAG), Temperature-Controlled Foodservice/Institutional Supply Wholesale (AFAIAHAK), Refrigerated/Chilled Foods Wholesale (Deli, Prepared, Fresh Pasta, etc.) (AFAIAHAB), Meat, Poultry & Seafood Refrigerated Warehousing (TLALABAC)

Keywords

• Cured meat products
• Meat processing
• Frozen hamburgers
• Ready meal manufacturing
• Charcuterie production

Headquarters

HQ city

Ranheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grocery Retail (Dagligvare): Sale of branded meat products through Norwegian grocery chains including Kiwi, Spar, Meny, Joker, Bunnpris. Products include salami, cured meats, hamburgers, fresh meat, and ready meals sold as consumer packaged goods (CPG).
2. Foodservice / HoReCa: Supply of fresh meat and ready meals to canteens, restaurants, and hotels across Norway. Approximately 10 employees in the Foodservice sales organization.
3. Slaughtering and Meat Cutting: Grilstad operates its own slaughterhouse subsidiary (Midt-Norge Slakteri AS, 90% owned) and cutting facilities, providing raw meat materials for internal production and serving Norwegian farmers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Grilstad produces and distributes cured meats (salami, cured ham, spekepølser), frozen hamburgers, ready meals (ferdigmat), fresh cold cuts, and snack meat products under flagship brands such as Jubelsalami, Gullsalami, Trønderfår, Butcher Burger, Strandaskinke, and the Skrytgaranti ready meal line. The company operates seven production facilities across Norway and Sweden (Ranheim, Stranda, Brumunddal, Stavanger, Melhus, Levanger, Östersund), delivering roughly 10,000 tonnes of product annually through Norwegian grocery chains and a dedicated Foodservice/HoReCa division.

Product overview

Grilstad is one of Norway's largest meat producers, offering a diverse portfolio of meat products. The core offerings include cured meats (spekepølser/salami) with flagship products like Jubelsalami (Norway's most eaten salami since 1974), Gullsalami (since 1961), and Trønderfår (since 1962). The product line expanded significantly into frozen hamburgers ( Butcher Burger Original, Grilstad Original/Cheese/Bacon/Smash Burgers, Chicken Burgers), ready meals/ferdigmat (Thai Kyllinggryte, Sweet & Sour Gryte, Marry Me Chicken under the Skrytgaranti brand), pulled meats (Pulled Pork BBQ, Pulled Taco), cured hams (Strandaskinke), snack products (Kompis Spekesnacks), and health-focused products (Lev Litt Lettere with reduced salt/fat). Grilstad delivers approximately 10,000 tons of products annually to the Norwegian market through 7 production facilities. The company also produces under brands including Stranda and Tind, and acquired Matpartner in 2020 for ready meal expansion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stranda Spekemat: Speck and cured meat brand acquired in 1995, operating as part of the Grilstad group
• Supersalami
• Gullsalami
• Jubelsalami
• Chorizo
• Pepperoni

Products and services

• Jubelsalami Norway's most eaten salami, launched in 1974. A cured sausage sold as a consumer packaged good for sandwiches and cold cuts.
• Gullsalami Premium salami launched in 1961, sold for household consumption as a cured meat product.
• Trønderfår Classic salami launched in 1962, named after the Trøndelag region where Grilstad is based. Sold as a cured meat product for household consumption.
• Fusion Salami Modern Asian-inspired salami with ginger and chili, sold exclusively at KIWI retail chain in Norway.
• Familia Salami Coarse-ground, mild salami inspired by Mediterranean cuisine, suitable for sandwiches, salads, pizza, or tapas. Exclusively distributed at MENY retail chain.
• Grilstad Salami (Family Brand) Family-brand salami range including Italiana, Picante, Fersk Salami, Svartpølse, Henriksenpølse, and Bordpakninger (family packs) for household consumption.
• Butcher Burger Original
• Grilstad Original Hamburger
• Grilstad Cheeseburger
• Grilstad Baconburger
• Grilstad Smash Burger
• Chili Cheese Panert Kyllingburger
• Crispy Kyllingburger
• Thai Kyllinggryte Ready meal (ferdigmat) inspired by Thai curry with coconut milk, aromatic spices, and vegetables. Part of the Skrytgaranti ready meal line.
• Sweet & Sour Gryte Ready meal (ferdigmat) with slow-cooked pork, crispy vegetables, and balanced sweet-and-sour sauce. Part of the Skrytgaranti ready meal line.
• Marry Me Chicken
• Strandaskinke (Stranda Cured Ham)
• Kompis Spekesnacks
• Hele Spekepølser (Whole Cured Sausages)
• Pulled Pork BBQ
• Pulled Taco
• Lev Litt Lettere (Health Line) Healthier product line with reduced fat and salt content, including Pestomarinert Kyllingfilet, Spekeskinke, and other products.
• Kyllingnuggets
• Snitzel
• Grilstad Dansk Leverpostei
• Grilstad Grov Ovnsbakt Leverpostei
• Ferskt Kjøttpålegg (Fresh Cold Cuts)

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prima BrandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2025Grilstad and Prima Brands signed a long-term cutting cooperation agreement for pig cutting starting end of March 2025. The combined annual volume is 250,000 pigs, representing 21,000 tonnes of pig slaughter — making it one of Norway's largest pig cutting operations. Prima has been Grilstad's largest external raw material supplier for many years. The partnership includes intent to explore further collaboration on logistics, sustainability, and the value chain.
• NorturacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025Nortura and Grilstad have collaborated since 2010 on slaughtering in Midt-Norge. Grilstad's subsidiary Midt-Norge Slakteri AS slaughters its volumes at Nortura's facilities on Steinkjer (pigs) and Malvik (cattle and sheep). A new long-term 12-year agreement was signed in February 2025, extending the partnership. Both companies continue to compete for farmers while cooperating on slaughtering.
• Nor-logcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 August 2024A 3-year agreement signed August 2024 for transport of slaughter animals and meat products between Trøndelag and Østlandet using biogas-fuelled trucks. The agreement reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 560 tonnes per year and is part of Grilstad's climate work. Nor-log aims to be fossil-free by 2030.
• KLF (Kjøtt- og fjørfebransjenes Landsforbund) / Animal Welfare VeterinarianminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrilstad's subsidiary Midt-Norge Slakteri AS (MNS) has partnered with KLF's specialist pig veterinarian Karl Kristian Kongsted to document and improve animal welfare in MNS's pig herds. MNS aims for 100% of slaughter animals to come from farms with approved KSL (Kvalitetssystem i Landbruket) certification.
• KIWI (NorgesGruppens retail chain)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKIWI is the exclusive retail partner for Grilstad's Fusion Salami product — an Asian-inspired salami with ginger and chili. Fusion is developed by Grilstad employees and sold only at KIWI stores. This represents an exclusive product-channel partnership.
• MatvettminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrilstad is a member of Matvett — the food and restaurant industry's joint initiative against food waste. This commitment aligns with the UN goal to halve food waste by 2030.
• Matsentralen and Too Good To GominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGrilstad donates surplus products to Matsentralen (food bank) and sells via Too Good To Go app to reduce food waste in the supply chain.
• Saltpartnerskapet (Salt Partnership) and Intensjonsavtalen for et sunnere kostholdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrilstad is committed to 'Intensjonsavtalen for et sunnere kosthold' and 'Saltpartnerskapet', pledging to reduce saturated fat and salt content in Norwegian diets to recommended levels. Grilstad has reduced salt in its products by nearly 20% since 2014.
• National and International Research Institutions (FoU / ExPress project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrilstad collaborates with national and international research institutions through the FoU project 'ExPress — Energy-efficient production of salt-reduced cured meat', aiming to reduce salt in cured ham and salami in an energy-efficient manner.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Danish Crown: Europe's largest pork producer and a major player in cured meats via its Hatting subsidiary. Comparable in product breadth (salami, sausages, ready meals) and scale, with deeper international footprint — a benchmark for what a scaled Nordic meat processor looks like and a potential competitor if Grilstad pushes beyond Norway.
• Kavli: Norwegian/Scandinavian food company with brands across cheese, condiments, and spreads. Operates broadly in the same Norwegian grocery channel and has comparable heritage and family-ownership characteristics to Grilstad, though with a different product mix.
• Orkla: Major Norwegian/Scandinavian branded food conglomerate spanning pizza, ready meals, condiments, and meat-adjacent categories. Overlaps with Grilstad in Norwegian grocery shelves and foodservice, but operates as a broad portfolio incumbent rather than a meat specialist.

Direct peers

• HKScan: Nordic meat processor headquartered in Finland with operations in Sweden, Denmark, and the Baltics — directly comparable in meat category breadth (salami, sausages, ready meals, fresh meat), Nordic geography, and customer base of regional grocery retailers.
• Atria: Finnish meat processor with Nordic operations in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and the Baltics. Product range includes cold cuts, sausages, ready meals, and poultry — directly comparable in category and geographic footprint to Grilstad's Norway-Sweden presence.
• Hatting: Danish salami and sausage brand owned by Danish Crown, with direct overlap to Grilstad's cured meat portfolio (Jubelsalami, Gullsalami). Operates in the Nordic region and competes for similar retail ready-meat and charcuterie occasions.
• Nortura: Norwegian cooperative meat processor and Grilstad's primary domestic competitor across pork, beef, lamb, and processed meats. Despite Grilstad using Nortura facilities for slaughtering under the renewed 12-year partnership, the two companies compete head-to-head for Norwegian farmers' livestock and for retail meat shelf space.
• Coop Norge: Norwegian retail cooperative that operates its own meat brand (Coop) and private-label production, directly competing with Grilstad products on Coop's own shelves. As a vertically integrated retailer-producer, Coop is both a customer through some banners and a competitive threat.

Emerging players

• Scandza: Norwegian food company behind several brands (Sørlandschips, Sætre, KiMs) with growing presence in Norwegian grocery. Adjacent in channel and grocery shelf space; competes for the same household meal occasions in the Norwegian CPG market.
• Synnøve Finden: Norwegian processed food company best known for cheese and ready meals, now part of the Scandza group. Overlaps with Grilstad's Matpartner ready meal business and competes for Norwegian foodservice and grocery ready-meal shelf space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/grilstad
• Instagraminstagram.com/grilstad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grilstad-as

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grilstad