Norgesgruppen to acquire stake in restaurant group including Maaemo

Norwegian grocery giant Norgesgruppen is expanding its influence into the high-end restaurant scene with a significant investment in Fursetgruppen. The company will acquire a 35% stake in Fursetgruppen, a hospitality conglomerate founded by Bjørn Tore Furset, which boasts a portfolio of popular Oslo eateries.

The acquisition notably includes a partial ownership of Maaemo, Oslo's sole three-Michelin-starred restaurant, which successfully retained its coveted stars at the recent Copenhagen awards. Fursetgruppen also operates other well-known establishments such as Grand Café, Carls, and Ekebergrestauranten. This move marks a strategic diversification for Norgesgruppen, venturing beyond its core grocery business.

Furset himself reassured Dagens Næringsliv that the operational integrity of Maaemo would remain intact, with head chef Esben Holmboe Bang continuing to lead its culinary direction. Fursetgruppen reported a revenue of 900 million kroner last year and is expected to be valued at around one billion kroner following this deal. The Norwegian Competition Authority has already given its approval, clearing the path for the transaction.

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It's a bit flippant, because nothing changes in Fursetgruppen. At Maaemo, Esben Holmboe Bang is the technical director and boss. Within those walls, he will still decide.