Bitastad

What Bitastad does

Bitastad AS is a Norwegian privately-held restaurant franchise platform established in 2017 and headquartered in Trondheim, operating as a multi-brand 'growth house' for the Norwegian food-service industry under owner Salvesen & Thams. The company owns and develops five consumer-facing restaurant concepts: Big Bite (quick-service burgers, since 1997), Jordbærpikene (shopping-center cafés, since 2003), Sabrura Sticks & Sushi (sushi buffet), SOT bar & burger, and Kompis (neighborhood casual dining, since 2017). As of 2025, Bitastad reports 159 restaurant locations and approximately 2,400 employees, with total system turnover of around 1.4 billion NOK including franchisee sales.

The company's operating model is a franchise system in which independent operators run individual locations under Bitastad's branded concepts, supported by an integrated value chain that includes Matmegleren (a wholly owned wholesale distributor supplying procurement, scanning, storage, and shipping) and AST Regnskap (a wholly owned cloud-based accounting firm serving over 300 companies). Bitastad earns revenue from franchise fees and royalties, distribution markups through Matmegleren, and accounting service fees through AST Regnskap, while franchisees generate end-consumer food and beverage sales across the five brands.

Bitastad's stated strategy is to acquire and scale proven Norwegian restaurant concepts with broad, mainstream appeal, providing franchisees with concept playbooks, training programs, purchasing agreements, marketing packages, financial tools, and centralized supply chain support. The company has publicly committed to doubling revenue by 2029 and is investing in operational infrastructure, including a new BREEAM NOR-certified distribution center at Oslo Logistikkpark Gardermoen opening autumn 2026 and a brand refresh for Big Bite in 2026 with a new product category. Technology is not a differentiator: Bitastad uses standard cloud-based accounting, EHF invoicing, and the Teamtailor recruitment platform, with no disclosed proprietary technology, AI/ML systems, or platform architecture.

Name

Bitastad

Legal name

Bitastad AS

Website

https://bitastad.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Bitastad is a Norwegian privately-held restaurant franchise platform that owns and scales five food-service brands (Big Bite, Jordbærpikene, Sabrura, SOT bar & burger, Kompis) through independent franchisors, supported by an owned wholesale distributor (Matmegleren) and accounting firm (AST Regnskap).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Restaurant Franchise Operations

NAICS

Food Service Contractors (722310)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Concept / Global QSR Chains (Mixed Menus) (THAFAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Contract Foodservice Management (Outsourced Catering) (THAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Restaurant franchise operations
• Foodservice distribution
• Quick service restaurants
• Café chain operations
• Franchise business support

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise fees and royalties: Bitastad generates revenue through franchise agreements with independent operators who pay for access to established concepts, operational systems, brand support, training, and ongoing business development assistance.
2. Distribution - Matmegleren: Matmegleren is a modern distributor serving the Norwegian restaurant market with full logistics solutions including procurement, scanning, storage, and shipping. As part of Bitastad, it supplies the chain concepts with ingredients and products, generating revenue through distribution markups.
3. Accounting services - AST Regnskap: AST Regnskap delivers accounting and financial services to over 300 companies, including Bitastad's own chains. Revenue comes from service fees for financial management and bookkeeping.
4. Restaurant and café sales: Franchise locations generate revenue from food and beverage sales to consumers across concepts including Big Bite, Jordbærpikene, Sabrura, Kompis, and SOT bar & burger. The total 2025 turnover including franchise was approximately 1.4 billion NOK.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bitastad is a Norwegian growth house that acquires, develops, and scales restaurant concepts through a franchise model, operating the chains Big Bite, Jordbærpikene, Sabrura, SOT bar & burger, and Kompis. The group supplies its franchisees and other Norwegian foodservice operators through its wholesale subsidiary Matmegleren and centralizes finance and accounting via AST Regnskap. Franchisees operate individual locations under these established brands while receiving training, operational systems, supply chain access, and ongoing business development support from the central office.

Product overview

Bitastad is a growth house for restaurant concepts operating as a portfolio of multiple distinct brands. The portfolio consists of Big Bite (fast food since 1997), Jordbærpikene (café since 2003), Sabrura Sticks & Sushi (sushi buffet), SOT bar & burger, and Kompis (neighborhood restaurant since 2017). These concepts are complemented by AST Regnskap (accounting services) and Matmegleren (distribution/logistics) which strengthen the overall value chain. The company operates on a franchise model where individual operators own and run their own locations within these established brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Big Bite: Norwegian fast food burger concept serving quick, accessible, and flavorful food in shopping centers and central hubs.
• Jordbærpikene
• Sabrura Sticks & Sushi
• Kompis
• SOT bar & burger
• AST Regnskap
• Matmegleren

Products and services

• Big Bite Norwegian fast food burger franchise concept serving quick, accessible, and flavorful food in shopping centers and central transport hubs, with standardized routines focused on speed, quality, and profitability.
• Jordbærpikene Café and casual dining franchise offering homemade food and cakes in shopping centers across Norway, combining café culture with seasonal homemade meals.
• Sabrura Sticks & Sushi Sushi buffet franchise combining Asian and Norwegian flavors, offering fresh sushi alongside warm Asian dishes such as dumplings, sticks, and crispy favorites at folk-friendly prices.
• Kompis Casual neighborhood restaurant franchise serving grilled burgers, handmade Italian pizza, and milkshakes with ingredients from local suppliers.
• SOT bar & burger Casual bar and burger restaurant concept within the Bitastad portfolio.
• Matmegleren Wholesale distribution and logistics services to the Norwegian restaurant market, providing sourcing, storage, scanning, and shipping of food ingredients and products to Bitastad's chains and external customers.
• AST Regnskap Cloud-based accounting and financial services firm serving over 300 companies, including the Bitastad group's franchise chains such as Jordbærpikene, Sabrura, Kompis, and Big Bite.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of Sabrura franchisors achieved positive results (profitability)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and operational.

• NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024NAV is Bitastad's partner in the 'UNG i arbeid' (Young in Work) project, aimed at making it easier to include young people in working life. Through their concepts present in local communities across Norway, they collaborate with NAV on work training, language training, and work inclusion. NAV has been an important sparring partner in developing the project and inclusion guide.
• BDO ASminorOthersBDO AS is the advisory and audit firm that operates Bitastad's central whistleblowing channel. The whistleblowing service is available through their platform.
• TeamtailoroperationalTechnology or IntegrationTeamtailor is used as Bitastad's recruitment and candidate management system. Job applications are processed through their platform, and personal data is handled in accordance with GDPR.
• Kreftforeningen (Norwegian Cancer Society)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJordbærpikene has a long-term collaboration with the Norwegian Cancer Society through the Rosa Sløyfe (Pink Ribbon) campaign to support breast cancer patients and research. Every October they organize 'Rosa lunsj' (Pink Lunch), where 10 NOK per sold lunch is donated.
• Too Good to GominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeveral of the chains use Too Good to Go app to reduce food waste. This helps reduce food waste while creating awareness among guests about the importance of reducing food waste.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Yum! Brands: Global multi-concept QSR company (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Habit Burger). Comparable to Bitastad's model of running a portfolio of differentiated franchise restaurant brands under a central platform.
• Restaurant Brands International: Global multi-brand QSR operator (Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes, Firehouse Subs). Comparable to Bitastad as a multi-concept restaurant franchise platform; broader scale and global footprint make it a broad incumbent reference.
• Inspire Brands: US-based multi-concept restaurant platform (Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, Baskin-Robbins) backed by Roark Capital. Directly comparable to Bitastad as a PE-backed, multi-brand restaurant franchise holding company.
• McDonald's Norge: Norwegian operating entity of the world's largest QSR chain. Direct competitive incumbent to Big Bite and Kompis in the Norwegian burger/QSR market, with materially greater scale and marketing budget.
• NorgesGruppen: Norway's largest grocery and consumer goods group (Meny, Kiwi, Joker, Spar). Operates adjacent food retail and foodservice concepts; relevant as a large Norwegian food/consumer ecosystem player that could acquire or compete with Bitastad.

Direct peers

• Domino's Pizza: Global QSR pizza franchise with Norwegian operations. Directly comparable to Kompis and other Bitastad quick-service concepts in delivery/takeaway pizza and franchised unit economics.
• Kaffebrenneriet: Major Norwegian café chain. Directly comparable to Bitastad's Jordbærpikene concept as a domestic café brand competing for Norwegian café traffic in shopping centers and urban locations.
• Deli de Luca: Norwegian quick-service restaurant chain (owned by Reitan) operating in shopping centers and high-traffic locations. Closest direct Norwegian QSR peer to Big Bite in positioning, format, and shopping-center footprint.
• Reitan AS: Norwegian family-owned conglomerate operating multi-concept franchise businesses including 7-Eleven Norway, Narvesen, and Deli de Luca. Closest direct Norwegian peer in operating a diversified franchise/retail foodservice platform with a holding-company structure.

Others

• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management contractor. Not a direct restaurant competitor, but relevant as a comparable operator of integrated food service platforms and as a potential acquirer or partner for Bitastad's contract food service ambitions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bitastad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bitastad
• Instagraminstagram.com/bitastad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Bitastad